🇬🇧 Decline meaning: English Vocabulary Flash Card

"Decline" means something is slowly going down or getting weaker over time. It can describe numbers getting smaller, like when the number of cookies in the jar goes down each day. It can describe a person or animal getting weaker or more tired as they get older. It can also mean something is becoming less good, like a messy room making your chances of finding your socks decline. When something declines, it doesn’t suddenly disappear; it changes little by little in a worse or lower direction.

My chances of getting dessert declined every time I said, “Just five more minutes of video games, please.”

The number of people willing to sit next to me declined after I proudly announced I hadn’t washed my gym socks in a week.

My respect for the alarm clock declined the moment it dared to wake me up on a Saturday.

The pirate’s reputation declined after everyone saw him get seasick on a paddle boat.

My little brother’s bravery declined as the roller coaster climbed higher and his screams got squeakier.

A boy watches his old dog begin to decline. He sees the dog decline: its step, sleep, and food decline, and its bright days decline. Neighbors warn the boy the pet will decline soon, but he keeps the dog close. One bright morning they walk once more; the boy hugs the dog and smiles through tears.

This word is at the B2 level, which means it’s used in more complex conversations and texts. It helps you discuss abstract ideas, express opinions clearly, and engage in discussions on a variety of topics, both personal and professional.

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