decline

/dɪˈklaɪn/ v. / n.
标准词条 CET-4CET-6IELTS
一句话记住

下降；衰退；婉拒；下降；衰退

释义与例句

v. 下降；衰退；婉拒
to become smaller, weaker or worse, or to refuse something politely
  1. The number of visitors declined sharply last year.
    去年游客数量急剧下降。
  2. His health began to decline after the accident.
    事故后，他的健康状况开始恶化。
展开其余 1 条例句
  1. She declined the invitation because of a prior engagement.
    她因已有安排而婉拒了邀请。
n. 下降；衰退
a gradual reduction in the amount, quality or importance of something
  1. The report shows a steady decline in air pollution.
    报告显示空气污染持续减轻。
  2. The industry has been in decline for years.
    这个行业多年来一直在衰退。
展开其余 1 条例句
  1. Better management helped reverse the company's decline.
    更好的管理帮助扭转了公司的颓势。

词源与构词

源自拉丁语 declinare，原义为“向下弯曲、偏离”，后发展出下降和拒绝等含义。

记忆钩子 decline 两条主线：数量“下降”是 decrease，礼貌“拒绝”是 refuse politely。

词族与关联词

同义词
  • decrease 减少；下降
    decrease 侧重数量或程度减少；decline 还可表示质量、健康或重要性衰退，语气常带“变差”。
    The population decreased slightly last year. 去年人口略有减少。
反义词
  • increase 增加；增长
    Sales increased during the summer. 夏季销售额有所增长。
  • accept 接受
    He accepted the invitation gladly. 他欣然接受了邀请。
易混词（形近或义近，注意区别）
  • refuse 拒绝
    refuse 语气直接、强硬；decline 作“拒绝”讲时更正式、委婉，常用于邀请或提议。
    He refused to answer the question. 他拒绝回答这个问题。
常见搭配
  • decline to do something 婉拒做某事
    The spokesperson declined to comment on the report. 发言人拒绝对该报道发表评论。
  • a decline in ……的下降
    There has been a decline in smoking among teenagers. 青少年吸烟人数有所下降。
  • on the decline 正在衰退；在减少
    Traditional letter writing is on the decline. 传统书信写作正日渐减少。