Business — Set 16

Set 16 of Business covers 5 words: negotiate, downsize, stabilize, exceed, decline. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

1. negotiate · verb/nəˈɡoʊʃiˌeɪt/

   to discuss to come to an agreement

   If you're a business owner or leader, you need to know how to negotiate.

   Synonyms: bargain; discuss

   Origin: early 17th century: from Latin negotiat- ‘done in the course of business’, from the verb negotiari, from negotium ‘business’, from neg- ‘not’ + otium ‘leisure’

2. downsize · verb/ˈdaʊnˌsaɪz/

   to reduce in size or number of employees

   Some companies will hire only limited numbers of employees, while some will downsize dramatically during this process.

   Synonyms: cut down

3. stabilize · verb/ˈsteɪbəˌlaɪz/

   to make stable, prevent change

   There must fundamental economic reforms if the country is to stabilize its economy.

   Synonyms: balance, maintain

4. exceed · verb/ɪkˈsid/

   to be more than a number or to go beyond a limit

   If your health related costs exceed 380 Euros a year, the amount will be paid by the health insurance company.

   Synonyms: go beyond, surpass

   Origin: late Middle English (in the sense ‘go over a boundary or specified point’): from Old French exceder, from Latin excedere, from ex- ‘out’ + cedere ‘go’

5. decline · verb/dəˈklaɪn/

   to become less

   In the oil-exporting countries, especially in the Persian Gulf region, revenues will decline as oil prices fall.

   Synonyms: decrease, go down

   Origin: late Middle English: from Old French decliner, from Latin declinare ‘bend down, turn aside’, from de- ‘down’ + clinare ‘to bend’