'Declining' definitions:

Definition of 'Declining'

From: GCIDE
  • Decline \De*cline"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Declined; p. pr. & vb. n. Declining.] [OE. declinen to bend down, lower, sink, decline (a noun), F. d['e]cliner to decline, refuse, fr. L. declinare to turn aside, inflect (a part of speech), avoid; de- + clinare to incline; akin to E. lean. See Lean, v. i.]
  • 1. To bend, or lean downward; to take a downward direction; to bend over or hang down, as from weakness, weariness, despondency, etc.; to condescend. "With declining head." --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • He . . . would decline even to the lowest of his family. --Lady Hutchinson. [1913 Webster]
  • Disdaining to decline, Slowly he falls, amidst triumphant cries. --Byron. [1913 Webster]
  • The ground at length became broken and declined rapidly. --Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To tend or draw towards a close, decay, or extinction; to tend to a less perfect state; to become diminished or impaired; to fail; to sink; to diminish; to lessen; as, the day declines; virtue declines; religion declines; business declines. [1913 Webster]
  • That empire must decline Whose chief support and sinews are of coin. --Waller. [1913 Webster]
  • And presume to know . . . Who thrives, and who declines. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. To turn or bend aside; to deviate; to stray; to withdraw; as, a line that declines from straightness; conduct that declines from sound morals. [1913 Webster]
  • Yet do I not decline from thy testimonies. --Ps. cxix. 157. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. To turn away; to shun; to refuse; -- the opposite of accept or consent; as, he declined, upon principle. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'declining'

From: GCIDE
  • declining \declining\ adj.
  • 1. decreasing; as, steadily declining incomes.
  • Syn: down(prenominal). [WordNet 1.5]
  • 2. going from better to worse.
  • Syn: deteriorating, failing, regressing, retrograde, retrogressive. [WordNet 1.5]
  • 3. becoming less or smaller; as, declining powers of body and mind. Opposite of increasing.
  • Syn: eroding. [WordNet 1.5]
  • 4. drawing to an end; waning; as, his declining years. [prenominal] [WordNet 1.5]

Synonyms of 'declining'

From: Moby Thesaurus