previously declined

USAGE SUMMARY

"previously declined" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to something that was rejected or turned down in the past. Example: "She had previously declined the offer before reconsidering." Alternative expressions include "earlier rejected" and "formerly turned down."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The university previously declined to respond to requests for comment.

The New York Times

She has previously declined to discuss the case.

The Guardian

Amazon didn't respond to media inquiries, and has previously declined comment on plans for additional locations.

The Guardian - Business

Housing prices have previously declined for long stretches in various regions.

The New York Times

Uber previously declined to comment on the record about the proposed Oakland tax.

The Guardian - Tech

We have previously declined to single out color as an individual element when conducting a copyright infringement analysis.

Harvard University

Both had previously declined to take action in their inquiries of the senator.

The New York Times

Rick Miramontez, a spokesman for the producers, had previously declined to comment on Ms. Lambrecht's suit.

The New York Times

Former Conservative Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper had previously declined to re-settle more refugees.

Independent

University officials previously declined to comment on news media reports that Jones would miss the season because of academic problems.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

oBike previously declined to reveal the full spectrum of investors in the Series A deal.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure the verb following this phrase matches the narrative tense; it is most commonly paired with perfect tenses like "had previously declined" or "has previously declined".

Common error

Avoid using "previously declined" in sentences where the timing is ambiguous. If the action is finished and has no connection to the present, ensure you use the past perfect "had" to avoid confusing the reader about whether the state of refusal is ongoing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "previously declined" functions as an adverbial modifier ("previously") coupled with a past participle or past tense verb ("declined"). According to Ludwig, it is frequently used within perfect verb constructions to denote an action that preceded another point in time. It typically serves to set the background for current developments.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Social Media

3%

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "previously declined" is a robust and grammatically sound phrase used extensively in high-quality English writing. Ludwig data shows that it is a favorite in investigative journalism and financial reporting to describe past refusals or historical market dips. Whether you are using it to explain why a spokesperson finally decided to speak or how a housing market behaved in the past, the phrase is a precise tool for establishing chronology. Ludwig AI confirms that its usage is consistently correct across major publications like The New York Times and The Guardian, making it a safe and professional choice for any writer.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

formerly rejected

Focuses more strongly on the act of refusal rather than just the state of declining.

earlier refused

A more direct and slightly less formal way to describe a past denial.

initially turned down

Suggests that the rejection occurred at the beginning of a process.

previously decreased

Synonym for when "declined" refers to numerical data or trends.

once rebuffed

Implies a single, perhaps more forceful instance of rejection in the past.

hitherto denied

A highly formal and somewhat archaic alternative used in legal or academic contexts.

formerly abstained

Specific to situations where someone chose not to participate or vote.

previously passed on

A more idiomatic and conversational way to say someone declined an opportunity.

heretofore vetoed

Specific to political or official contexts where a formal power was used to decline.

historically fallen

Used when describing trends or values that have gone down in the past.

FAQs

How do I use "previously declined" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe an earlier refusal, such as "The company "previously declined" to comment on the merger." or a numerical drop, like "Stock prices "previously declined" before rebounding."

What is a formal synonym for "previously declined"?

A more formal alternative for a refusal would be "formerly rejected" or for a numerical trend "previously decreased".

Is it correct to say "previously declined"?

Yes, it is perfectly correct. As noted in the Ludwig analysis, it is a standard English phrase used by reputable sources like The New York Times and The BBC.

Can "previously declined" be used for both refusals and numbers?

Yes, it is versatile. You can say someone declined an offer, or that a value "initially turned down" in a metaphorical sense, though for data, "previously decreased" is often more precise.