ascend

[ uh-send ]

/ əˈsɛnd /

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See synonyms for: ascend / ascended / ascending on Thesaurus.com

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.

OTHER WORDS FOR ascend

1 soar.

See synonyms for ascend on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR ascend

1, 6 descend.

See antonyms for ascend on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is commonly used with other verbs to express intention?

shall

should

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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

synonym study for ascend

6. See climb.

OTHER WORDS FROM ascend

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

Words nearby ascend

ascarid, Ascarididae, ascaridole, ascaris, Ascaris lumbricoides, ascend, ascendancy, ascendant, ascender, ascendeur, ascending

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use ascend in a sentence

He has cherished watching his former quarterback ascend as a coach.
Super Bowl highlights: Bucs celebrate championship, Tom Brady wins MVP|Des Bieler, Mark Maske, Chuck Culpepper|February 8, 2021|Washington Post
Heli pilots often like to ascend mountains like a ski tourer going uphill, weaving their way back and forth across the terrain.
After the Crash, They Said I Was Fine. I Wasn't.|Erin Tierney|February 4, 2021|Outside Online
They ascend high into a layer of the atmosphere called the stratosphere.
Space station sensors saw how weird ‘blue jet’ lightning forms|Maria Temming|February 2, 2021|Science News For Students
The lines moved slow—normally eight people fit onto the gondola, but under the new policies there was no mixing between groups, so often times the gondola ascends with just one or two passengers.
What America's Richest Ski Town's Handling of COVID-19 Says About the Country|Lucas Isakowitz|February 1, 2021|Time

Seeing the company's rocket drop from an aircraft last weekend and ascend into orbit on just its second attempt was darn impressive.
Rocket Report: Starship going offshore, Blue Origin may launch humans in April|Eric Berger|January 22, 2021|Ars Technica
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
A tall phantom in livery appeared, as if by magic, and signed to me to ascend the grand staircase.
Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay
On one side loomed a huge tank, to the brink of which a rickety wooden ladder invited the explorer to ascend.
Dope|Sax Rohmer
The conductor stood beside his platform, ready to ascend as Diotti appeared.
The Fifth String |John Philip Sousa
Flanked on each side by a policeman, I pass through winding corridors, and finally ascend to the private office of the Chief.
Prison Memoirs of an Anarchist|Alexander Berkman
Christianity was destined to undergo a final ordeal before it should ascend the throne of the Csars.
The Catacombs of Rome|William Henry Withrow

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

ascend

OTHER WORDS FOR ascend

OPPOSITES FOR ascend

Origin of ascend

synonym study for ascend

OTHER WORDS FROM ascend

Words nearby ascend

Words related to ascend

How to use ascend in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for ascend

Word Origin for ascend