ascend

[ uh-send ]

/ əˈsɛnd /

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verb (used without object)

to move, climb, or go upward; mount; rise: The airplane ascended into the clouds.

to slant upward.

to rise to a higher point, rank, or degree; proceed from an inferior to a superior degree or level: to ascend to the presidency.

to go toward the source or beginning; go back in time.

Music. to rise in pitch; pass from any tone to a higher one.

verb (used with object)

to go or move upward upon or along; climb; mount: to ascend a lookout tower; to ascend stairs.

to gain or succeed to; acquire: to ascend the throne.

Nearby words

Origin of ascend

1350–1400; Middle English ascenden < Anglo-French ascendre < Latin ascendere to climb up, equivalent to a- a-⁵ + -scendere, combining form of scandere to climb. See scan

SYNONYMS FOR ascend

1. soar. 6. See climb.

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ANTONYMS FOR ascend

1, 6. descend.

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Related formsas·cend·a·ble, as·cend·i·ble, adjectivere·as·cend, verbun·as·cend·a·ble, adjectiveun·as·cend·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for ascend

Under Henry II, Marshal continued to ascend, as the king rewarded his service with land, a wife, and a title.
England’s Greatest Knight Puts ‘Game of Thrones’ to Shame|William O’Connor|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The opposite phenomenon also occurs: neglected writers who ascend to prominence only posthumously.
The Birth of the Novel|Nick Romeo|November 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Then there are those who have strong vocals, but have yet to ascend to massive career success or freakish mainstream popularity.
Mariah Carey Is the Last of the Traditional Divas|Phoebe Robinson|May 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The transformation begins even before you step foot in the town-palace and ascend its grand stairway.
The Royal Academy Wants You to Finish This Artwork|Chloë Ashby|January 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST

His opponents are up against the bizarre logic that pushed the crack-smoking Toronto mayor to ascend and survive.
How Rob Ford Could Win Reelection|Ivor Tossell|January 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Four men, who were employed in cleansing a sewer, were so affected by the fœtid vapours, that they were unable to ascend.
The Book of Three Hundred Anecdotes|Various
Ascend the tribune; tell the departments the truth, which the enemies of the Commune conceal from them.
History of the Commune of 1871|P. Lissagary
Meanwhile let the maidens of Pieria attend thee; and, with me for guide, ascend into the groves of high Parnassus.'
Renaissance in Italy, Volume 2 (of 7)|John Addington Symonds
At last the multitude came quite near; the first ranks began to ascend the height.
Let us follow Him|Henryk Sienkiewicz
It happened after Noah's flood, that giants would raise up a city, and a tower so high, that its roof should ascend to heaven.
The Homilies of the Anglo-Saxon Church|lfric

British Dictionary definitions for ascend

ascend

/ (əˈsɛnd) /

verb

to go or move up (a ladder, hill, slope, etc); mount; climb

(intr) to slope or incline upwards

(intr) to rise to a higher point, level, degree, etc

to follow (a river) upstream towards its source

to trace (a genealogy, etc) back in time

to sing or play (a scale, arpeggio, etc) from the lower to higher notes

ascend the throne to become king or queen

Word Origin for ascend

C14: from Latin ascendere, from scandere

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for ascend

ascend

late 14c., from Latin ascendere "to climb up, mount, ascend," figuratively "to rise, reach," from ad- "to" (see ad-) + scandere "to climb" (see scan (v.)). Also in 15c. used with a sense "to mount (a female) for copulation." Related: Ascended; ascending. An Old English word for it was stigan.

ascend

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

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Origin of ascend

Examples from the Web for ascend

ascend

verb

Word Origin for ascend

ascend