decline to meet

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "decline to meet" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when indicating that someone is refusing or choosing not to attend a meeting or gathering. Example: "After considering the proposal, I must decline to meet with the team at this time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

The US secretary of state, John Kerry, must decline to meet his Russian counterpart.

The Guardian - Opinion

Why did the prime minister initially decline to meet Commonwealth leaders to even discuss the issue?

The Guardian - Opinion

MARK C. VADON is one of the world's top diamond retailers, but wholesalers often decline to meet with him on the convention floor at jewelry trade shows.

The New York Times

But the argument gained little traction, and several justices noted that the law permitted uses that seemed to invade doctors' privacy as much as the forbidden ones, and in any event doctors remain free to decline to meet with marketers.

The New York Times

Not only did this potential suitor decline to meet up, he also gave him a stern lecture about how all gay men should be on PrEP, like some sort of Truvada proselytizer.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

"The NFL declined to meet with us today and have yet to set up a follow-up meeting; they say they're working on it".

Huffington Post

The daughter declined to meet at first.

The New York Times

Tusk declined to meet Sturgeon.

The Guardian

But Argentina's president declined to meet with Mr. Brufau.

The New York Times

Hall, meanwhile, declined to meet with reporters today.

The New York Times - Sports

The North Koreans had hitherto declined to meet with Biegun.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "decline to meet", ensure the context clearly indicates the reason for refusal, whether it's due to scheduling conflicts, disagreement, or strategic considerations. This adds clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using incorrect prepositions such as "decline from meeting". The correct form is "decline to meet".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decline to meet" functions as a verb phrase indicating refusal or unwillingness to engage in a meeting. Examples from Ludwig illustrate its usage in various contexts, such as political leaders refusing to meet and individuals rejecting meeting requests.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "decline to meet" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express refusal or unwillingness to attend a meeting. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English. While relatively rare in occurrence, the phrase is most commonly found in news and media contexts. Alternatives include "refuse to meet" or "opt not to meet", providing similar meanings with slight variations in formality and emphasis. When using the phrase, ensure clarity regarding the reason for declining to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Refuse to meet

A more direct and forceful way of saying "decline to meet".

Opt not to meet

Indicates a conscious choice against meeting, often implying a strategic decision.

Decline a meeting

A more concise way of expressing the same meaning.

Reject a meeting request

Specifically refers to turning down a formal request for a meeting.

Turn down a meeting

Similar to 'reject a meeting request', but slightly less formal.

Avoid a meeting

Suggests actively steering clear of a meeting, possibly to evade confrontation or commitment.

Give a meeting a miss

An informal expression for choosing not to attend a meeting.

Beg off from a meeting

Implies politely excusing oneself from a meeting, often due to prior commitments or other reasons.

Not be available for a meeting

Indicates a lack of time or scheduling conflicts preventing attendance.

Fail to attend a meeting

A neutral description of not being present at a meeting, without necessarily implying a deliberate choice.

FAQs

What does "decline to meet" mean?

The phrase "decline to meet" means to refuse or choose not to have a meeting with someone. It indicates a rejection of an opportunity to discuss or negotiate face-to-face.

How to use "decline to meet" in a sentence?

You can use "decline to meet" in a sentence like this: "The CEO decided to "decline to meet" with the union representatives until they presented a detailed proposal."

What can I say instead of "decline to meet"?

You can use alternatives like "refuse to meet", "opt not to meet", or "reject a meeting request" depending on the context.

Is "decline meeting" grammatically correct?

While you could say "decline a meeting", the phrase "decline to meet" is more common and grammatically preferred when referring to refusing to have a meeting with someone.