1
general::
verb refuse ADV. politely | absolutely I absolutely decline to discuss my dealings with him or anyone. become smaller/weaker ADV. considerably, dramatically, drastically, markedly, sharply, significantly, steeply The economy has declined sharply in recent years. | a little, slightly | fast, rapidly The market for these products is declining fast. | steadily | gradually, slowly | further PREP. by Profits declined by 6% this year. | from, to The number of full-time staff has declined from 300 to just 50. PHRASES decline in importance/numbers/size This section of the market has slowly declined in importance., noun ADJ. catastrophic, considerable, dramatic, drastic, massive, marked, precipitate, precipitous, rapid, serious, sharp, significant, steep, substantial | gentle, gradual, modest, slight, slow | continuing, progressive, steady a steady decline in manufacturing | general, long-term, overall | absolute, inevitable, inexorable, irreversible, terminal an industry in terminal decline | economic, industrial, moral, political, urban the moral decline of the nation | national VERB + DECLINE fall into, go into, suffer The cloth trade went into gradual decline. | cause, lead to The increased gold price lead to the decline of his jewellery business. | arrest, halt, stop We must halt this decline in health services. | prevent | accelerate | see We have seen a sharp decline in educational standards over recent years. PREP. in ~ The motor industry is still in decline. | on the ~ This area has been on the decline for some years now. | ~ in a steep decline in sales | ~ of the decline of British farming PHRASES the decline and fall of sth the decline and fall of a great civilization
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
2
general::
decline
adjectives
sharp/steep
(= by a large amount )
• The higher prices caused a sharp decline in sales.
rapid
(= fast )
• We noticed a rapid decline in his health.
dramatic
(= extremely fast, and by a large amount )
• The last three years have seen a dramatic decline in the number of tigers in the area.
marked
(= very noticeable )
• Hunting led to a marked decline in bird numbers.
gradual
• After 1870, there was a gradual decline of the disease.
steady/progressive
(= gradual but continuous )
• There has been a steady decline in club membership.
a long-term decline
(= happening for a long time )
• The long-term decline in the manufacturing industry is still continuing.
economic/industrial etc decline
• This area has been severely affected by long-term industrial decline.
verbs
cause/lead to a decline
• The use of agricultural chemicals has led to a decline in water quality.
go/fall into decline
(= become less important, successful etc )
• At the beginning of the century the cloth trade was going into decline.
suffer a decline
• The firm suffered a sharp decline in its profits.
stop/halt a decline
(= stop it from continuing )
• These measures are intended to halt the decline in fish populations.
reverse a decline
(= make something start to improve again )
• The main aim is to reverse the decline of the world’s environment.
see a decline
(= used to say that a decline happens at a particular time or in a particular place )
• The 20th century saw a steady decline in the rural population.
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