decline用作动词的基本意思是有礼貌地拒绝邀请、给予或服务。引申可表示“衰落,降低”“倾斜,下降”“下沉”。作“辞谢,谢绝”解时多用作及物动词,其后可接名词、动名词或动词不定式作宾语。作“衰落”解时只用作不及物动词。

用作不及物动词
▲S+～(+A)
We asked her to come to our party, but she declined.我们请她来参加我们的晚会,但是她谢绝了。
The sun is declining.太阳在落山。
The ground on each side declines gently.地面的两侧略向下倾斜。
Their position in international trade rapidly declined.他们在国际贸易中的地位急速下降。
His health has declined these months.在过去的几个月里,他的身体衰弱了。
用作及物动词
▲S+～+n./pron.
I declined his invitation.我谢绝了他的邀请。
▲S+～+to-v
The boy declined to answer a question.那男孩拒绝回答问题。
▲S+～+v-ing
He declined going to the party with her.他不肯跟她一起去参加晚会。

decline, refuse, reject
参见refuse条。

［同义词］ n. drop v. drop, refuse, reject
［反义词］   accept, agree
［词源］＜古法语decliner(倾斜,下降)

fall〔go〕 into a decline
失去力量〔影响〕 lose strength, influence, etc.
He fell into a decline.他的影响逐渐减弱。

on the decline
在消减,在衰退 becoming weaker, fewer, etc.
His father is on the decline.他父亲的身体越来越弱。
The birthrate is on the decline.出生率在下降。

There has been a sharp decline in profits this year.今年的利润大幅度下降。