English Reference
adjective

deteriorating

adj.
US /dɪˈtɪɹiɝˌeɪtɪŋ/ UK /dɪtˈiəɹiəɹˌeɪtɪŋ/ de·te·ri·o·rat·ing

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    becoming worse in quality, health, or strength over time.

    undergoing a progressive decline in condition, quality, or functional capacity.

    Simple

    The doctor was worried about the patient's deteriorating health over the weekend.

    In context

    The city council struggled to fund repairs for the deteriorating infrastructure, which had suffered from decades of neglect and harsh weather.

Usage deteriorating due · deteriorating mental · concurrent deteriorating

There was speculation that the player’s emotional reaction to Argentina’s last-16 victory over Egypt was due in part to his father’s deteriorating condition.

The Guardian· 8 Aug 2026

Staff say learning on the hottest days is almost impossible, with pupil behaviour and attention deteriorating rapidly.

The Guardian· 11 Jul 2026
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated