ascend

[uh-send]

verb (used without object)

1. to move, climb, or go upward; mount; rise.

   The airplane ascended into the clouds.

   Synonyms: soar
   Antonyms: descend

2. to slant upward.

3. to rise to a higher point, rank, or degree; proceed from an inferior to a superior degree or level.

   to ascend to the presidency.

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

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

verb (used with object)

1. to go or move upward upon or along; climb; mount.

   to ascend a lookout tower;

   to ascend stairs.

   Antonyms: descend

2. to gain or succeed to; acquire.

   to ascend the throne.

ascend

/ əˈsɛnd /

verb

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

2. (intr) to slope or incline upwards

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

4. to follow (a river) upstream towards its source

5. to trace (a genealogy, etc) back in time

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

7. to become king or queen

Other Word Forms

• ascendable adjective
• ascendible adjective
• reascend verb
• unascendable adjective
• unascended adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ascend¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English ascenden, from Anglo-French ascendre, from Latin ascendere “to climb up,” from a- a- ⁵ + -scendere, combining form of scandere “to climb”

Word History and Origins

Origin of ascend¹

C14: from Latin ascendere, from scandere

Synonym Study

See climb.

Example Sentences

The earl is shocked to discover that the family would have neighbors and that he’d have to “go along” the hallway to bed rather than ascend the stairs as he would in a grand home.

From Los Angeles Times

As one carriage travels downhill, its weight lifts the other, allowing them to ascend and descend simultaneously, reducing the energy needed to transport them.

From BBC

They are attached to opposite ends of a haulage cable meaning that as one travels downhill, its weight lifts the other, allowing them to ascend and descend simultaneously.

From BBC

Harbaugh called him “a shining star... ascending to be a superstar.”

From Los Angeles Times

Starship continued to ascend, reaching a maximum height of almost 200km above Earth, before coasting around the planet.

From BBC

Related Words

• climb 
• escalate 
• move up 
• soar 
• take off