ascendant

or as·cend·ent

[ uh-sen-duhnt ]

noun

1. a position of dominance or controlling influence: possession of power, superiority, or preeminence:

   With his rivals in the ascendant, he soon lost his position.

2. an ancestor; forebear.
3. Astrology. the point of the ecliptic or the sign and degree of the zodiac rising above the eastern horizon at the time of a birth or event: the cusp of the first house.

adjective

1. ascending; ascending; rising.
2. superior; predominant.
3. Botany. directed or curved upward.

ascendant

/ əˈsɛndənt /

adjective

1. proceeding upwards; rising
2. dominant, superior, or influential
3. botany another term for ascending

noun

1. rare.
   an ancestor
2. a position or condition of dominance, superiority or control
3. astrology sometimes capital
   1. a point on the ecliptic that rises on the eastern horizon at a particular moment and changes as the earth rotates on its axis
   2. the sign of the zodiac containing this point
4. in the ascendant
   increasing in influence, prosperity, etc

Other Words From

• nonas·cendant adjective
• nonas·cendant·ly adverb
• nonas·cendent adjective
• nonas·cendent·ly adverb
• unas·cendant adjective
• unas·cendent adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ascendant¹

1350–1400; Middle English ascendent < Latin ascendent- (stem of ascendēns ) climbing up. See ascend, -ent, -ant

Example Sentences

The Republican Party will wither if the ascendant Lout Caucus is the face it presents to this nation of decent, congenial people.

From Washington Post

Then, in the 1980s, an ascendant conservative movement began a blistering rhetorical assault on what Ronald Reagan called the “dreaded l-word.”

From Washington Post

If this YOLO GameStop saga has taught us anything, it’s that we’re glimpsing an ascendant force in the markets with the power to exert incredible pain on the old guard.

From Fortune

As far as campaign songs go, Bobi Wine’s hits all the right notes—an infectious, joyous message of hope reborn and national unity ascendant, interwoven with campaign pledges set to a rollicking, gospel infused reggae beat.

From Time

It was the first decision of the Council’s new 8-1 Democratic super majority, revealing divisions within an an ascendant liberal coalition that nonetheless has near uniform control over city government.

From Voice of San Diego

The ascendant media that looked down on him has been pretty much destroyed.

From The Daily Beast

“Tex-Mex for decades was ascendant,” Arellano told the The Weekly Alibi in 2012.

From The Daily Beast

Stressed as it may be, the Coalition of the Ascendant is not disappearing.

From The Daily Beast

Just last year, it seemed as if Hamas—with the Brotherhood dominating Egyptian electoral politics—might be ascendant.

From The Daily Beast

Gay marriage is ascendant, driven by a rapidly shifting public opinion.

From The Daily Beast

Ultimately, finding the Emperor's cause in the ascendant, he cast aside hesitation and threw in his lot with him.

From Project Gutenberg

The High Church party were then in the ascendant, and Abbot, from various causes, declined from favour.

From Project Gutenberg

It was Jem Deady in the custody of his wife, who was now in the ascendant.

From Project Gutenberg

In 1784, the Foxite administration fell, and Pitt was in the ascendant.

From Project Gutenberg

He has written a large number of short sketches and more extended novels, and his talent is still in the ascendant.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• predominant