decline // noun, verb

■ noun [C, usually sing., U]

a process or period of becoming weaker, smaller or less good:

The country suffered a sharp decline in exports

She has failed to reverse the company's decline.

The rate of decline is now slowing.

The currency has been in decline since the 1980s.

An increase in cars has resulted in the decline of public transport.

The company reported a 14% decline in sales.

a dramatic/rapid/sharp/steep decline

◆ a gradual/slight/slow decline

◆ a continued/continuing/steady decline

◆ to halt/reverse/stop/suffer a decline

■ verb [no obj]

to become weaker, smaller or less good:

The number of tourists to the resort declined by 10% last year.

The group has been hit by declining sales.

The shares are likely to decline in value soon. See note at INCREASE

❖ to decline dramatically/sharply/steeply

◆ to decline gradually/slowly/steadily

• non-professional
• non-profit
• non-recourse
• non-recoverable
• non-recurring
• non-refundable
• non-renewable
• non-resident
• non-residential
• non-smoking
• non-standard
• non-stop
• non-tariff barrier
• non-taxable
• nontraditional
• non-transferable
• non-union
• non-verbal communication
• non-voting
• no-par
• norm
• nose
• nosedive
• no-show
• no-strike