Dictionary.com

ascent

[ uh-sent ]
/ əˈsɛnt /
Save This Word!

noun
an act of ascending; upward movement; a rising movement: the ascent of a balloon.
movement upward from a lower to a higher state, degree, grade, or status; advancement: His ascent to the governorship came after a long political career.
the act of climbing or traveling up: Three climbers attempted the ascent of Mount Rainier.
the way or means of ascending; upward slope; acclivity.
a movement or return toward a source or beginning.
the degree of inclination; gradient:a steep ascent.
QUIZ
CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?
There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?
Question 1 of 7
Which sentence is correct?

Origin of ascent

1590–1600; derivative of ascend, on the model of descent

OTHER WORDS FROM ascent

re·as·cent, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH ascent

ascent , assent, consent
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

ASCENT VS. ASSENT

What's the difference between ascent and assent?

Ascent is a noun that means the act of moving upward (ascending), an upward movement, or upward movement in general. Assent can be a noun meaning agreement, as in I give my assent, or a verb meaning to agree or give in, as in I assent to your terms.

The two words are pronounced exactly the same.

Perhaps the best way to remember the difference between the two is to think about what related words mean and how they’re spelled. Words related to ascent involve movement and are spelled with sc, including ascend, ascension, descent, descend, and transcend.

Words related to assent involve agreement or disagreement and end with -sent, including consent and dissent.

Here’s an example of ascent and assent used correctly in a sentence.

Example: I asked him if he really wanted to climb the mountain, he gave his assent, and we began our ascent.

Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between ascent and assent.

Quiz yourself on ascent vs. assent!

Should ascent or assent be used in the following sentence?

The balloon’s _____ into the air was slowed by all the weight attached to it.

How to use ascent in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for ascent

ascent
/ (əˈsɛnt) /

noun
the act of ascending; climb or upward movementthe ascent of hot gases
an upward slope; incline or gradient
movement back through time, as in tracing of earlier generations (esp in the phrase line of ascent)
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
FEEDBACK