precipitate a decline

Meaning

To cause a sudden, rapid, or premature drop in value, quality, performance, or market share. It suggests that a specific event acted as a catalyst for a downward trend.

Examples

• The introduction of cheaper alternatives helped precipitate a decline in our sales.

  The introduction of cheaper alternatives helped precipitate a decline in our sales.

• Bad publicity can quickly precipitate a decline in stock value.

  Bad publicity can quickly precipitate a decline in stock value.

• A lack of innovation will eventually precipitate a decline in market share.

  A lack of innovation will eventually precipitate a decline in market share.

• The sudden policy change is expected to precipitate a decline in foreign investment.

  The sudden policy change is expected to precipitate a decline in foreign investment.

• Several poor strategic decisions combined to precipitate a decline in company morale.

  Several poor strategic decisions combined to precipitate a decline in company morale.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ The bad news precipitated a decline of the stock prices.

  ✓ The bad news precipitated a decline in stock prices.

  Use the preposition 'in' to specify what is decreasing (e.g., 'a decline in sales' or 'a decline in performance').

• ✗ We want to precipitate a decline of our costs.

  ✓ We want to bring about a reduction in our costs.

  Precipitate a decline has a strong negative connotation, usually referring to undesirable drops (like sales, morale, or quality). It is not used for intentional positive reductions like cutting costs.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Failing to update our software could ___ in user engagement.

  💡 cause a sudden drop

  Show answer

  precipitate a decline

• The sudden departure of key developers may ___ in product quality.

  💡 trigger a rapid drop

  Show answer

  precipitate a decline