on the decline

idiom

: becoming worse in condition or less in size, amount, number, etc. : declining
His health is on the decline.
Sales are on the decline.

Examples of on the decline in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Homicides in Oakland have been on the decline recently, following four straight years of more than 100 homicides. Tim Fang, CBS News, 2 Jan. 2026 Divorce rates are on the decline Though there’s been a slight uptick for those over 50, divorce has been in decline nationwide since the early 1980s, according to the Pew Research Center. Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2026 Even when revenue from international tourism was on the decline, Gaviota was still making profits that would have been the envy of the industry’s global leaders. Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 23 Dec. 2025 Diesel and jet fuel prices are on the decline as well, all contributing to combat inflation, but gasoline costs have fallen the most, McClain said. Jordan Blum, Fortune, 17 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for on the decline

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“On the decline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20the%20decline. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!