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. ascend the throne
   to become king or queen

Other Words From

• as·cenda·ble as·cendi·ble adjective
• reas·cend verb
• unas·cenda·ble adjective
• unas·cended 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

They hiked, explored, ascended volcanoes, descended into caves and chased waterfalls and bears.

From Salon

It is actually the blinkered thinking, or rather non-thinking of the new national security mandarins about to ascend to the highest levels of government that most promises to place America's future in jeopardy.

From Salon

As we’ve seen since, there are some pitfalls of ascending to that next level of popularity as a sport …

From Los Angeles Times

The challenges, Carroll noted, might come off the field because nearly all NFL coaches start families as college or pro assistants, before they ascend to the top job.

From Los Angeles Times

As we ascend up the lift hill, we do so with twirling, bright lights, which feature just a dash of twilight hues.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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