What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
declined
Example
The company's profits declined sharply last year. [declined: past tense]
Example
The number of students enrolled in the course has declined steadily. [declined: verb]
Example
He declined the invitation to attend the party. [declined: past tense]
decrease
Example
The company announced a decrease in production due to low demand. [decrease: noun]
Example
The temperature is expected to decrease by ten degrees tonight. [decrease: verb]
Example
The noise level decreased after the construction work stopped. [decreased: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Decrease is more commonly used than declined in everyday language. Decrease is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while declined is less common and often used in more specific situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between declined and decrease?
Both declined and decrease can be used in formal and informal contexts. However, declined may be perceived as more formal due to its association with business and finance contexts.
