deteriorate

From Wiktionary

Pronunciation[change]

Verb[change]

Plain form
deteriorate

Third-person singular
deteriorates

Past tense
deteriorated

Past participle
deteriorated

Present participle
deteriorating

  1. To deteriorate, something will slowly lose a certain value over a period of time.
    Food is kept cold in a refrigerator so it will not deteriorate or spoil.
  2. If something deteriorates, it gets worse.
    His attention to the teacher deteriorated as he got sleepier.
    The political situation deteriorated after the soldiers attacked the president's palace.

Related words[change]