decline
Translation
to decline, to refuse, to decrease
Examples
She declined his invitation to the party.
She declined his invitation to the party.
The company's profits declined last year.
The company's profits declined last year.
He politely declined to comment on the issue.
He politely declined to comment on the issue.
Grammar Patterns
((sth.)) to refuse (sth.) She declined his invitation.
((to-inf)) to refuse to do (sth.) He declined to comment.
(subject) to decrease Profits declined last year.
Similar Words
Synonyms: refuse, reject, decrease; Antonyms: accept, increase
Etymology
From Latin 'declinare' (de- 'down' + clinare 'to bend'). The idea is of bending away from or down, hence refusing or decreasing.
Memory Tips
Picture a line on a graph going down, or 'declining'. Or, imagine bowing your head down ('de-cline') to politely say no.