ascending

[ uh-sen-ding ]

adjective

1. moving upward; rising.
2. Botany. growing or directed upward, especially obliquely or in a curve from the base.

ascending

/ əˈsɛndɪŋ /

adjective

1. moving upwards; rising
2. botany sloping or curving upwards

   the ascending stem of a vine

Other Words From

• as·cending·ly adverb
• subas·cending adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ascending¹

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; ascend, -ing ²

Example Sentences

Keeping it on your nightstand means your phone will never run out of charge in the middle of the night, and an ascending-volume alarm gently wakes you in the morning.

From Popular-Science

They were holding too many meetings, he realized, descending into politics instead of ascending to reckon with Flagg.

From The Daily Beast

The officer says the guards kept constant watch for clues among the prisoners for coalescing groups and ascending leaders.

From The Daily Beast

The new pope is undoubtedly forward-thinking—except for when it comes to women ascending in the church hierarchy.

From The Daily Beast

“The beauty of the sky is the most poignant we have seen,” he wrote in his logbook upon ascending 10 miles above the earth.

From The Daily Beast

They are, in ascending order of controversy, Penny Pritzker for Commerce, Gina McCarthy for the EPA, and Tom Perez for Labor.

From The Daily Beast

The rays of the ascending sun were bright upon it: and the superb palace of the Spanish kings shone in its fullest splendour.

From Project Gutenberg

As the girl spoke, footsteps were heard ascending the creaky wooden stair.

From Project Gutenberg

For some time previously he had been devoting himself more especially to ascending to as great a height as possible.

From Project Gutenberg

On the way down-stairs Laidlaw and his little companion passed a tall gentleman and two ladies who were ascending.

From Project Gutenberg

I prefer the principle of the ascending and descending scale, to such an amount of fixed duty.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• ascendance
• ascension
• climb