ascending

[ uh-sen-ding ]

/ əˈsɛn dɪŋ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR ascending ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

moving upward; rising.

Botany. growing or directed upward, especially obliquely or in a curve from the base.

Origin of ascending

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at ascend, -ing²

OTHER WORDS FROM ascending

as·cend·ing·ly, adverb sub·as·cend·ing, adjective

Words nearby ascending

ascend, ascendancy, ascendant, ascender, ascendeur, ascending, ascending artery, ascending colon, ascending degeneration, ascending lumbar vein, ascending node

Definition for ascending (2 of 2)

ascend

[ uh-send ]

/ əˈsɛnd /

verb (used without object)

to move, climb, or go upward; mount; rise: The airplane ascended into the clouds.

to slant upward.

to rise to a higher point, rank, or degree; proceed from an inferior to a superior degree or level: to ascend to the presidency.

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

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

verb (used with object)

to go or move upward upon or along; climb; mount: to ascend a lookout tower; to ascend stairs.

to gain or succeed to; acquire: to ascend the throne.

Origin of ascend

1350–1400; Middle English ascenden < Anglo-French ascendre < Latin ascendere to climb up, equivalent to a- a-⁵ + -scendere, combining form of scandere to climb. See scan

SYNONYMS FOR ascend

1 soar.

6 See climb.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR ascend ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR ascend

1, 6 descend.

SEE ANTONYMS FOR ascend ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM ascend

as·cend·a·ble, as·cend·i·ble, adjective re·as·cend, verb un·as·cend·a·ble, adjective un·as·cend·ed, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for ascending

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

McConaughey’s ‘Stand’—And Ours |James Poulos |December 5, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The officer says the guards kept constant watch for clues among the prisoners for coalescing groups and ascending leaders.

ISIS Leader: ‘See You in New York’ |Michael Daly |June 14, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
They are, in ascending order of controversy, Penny Pritzker for Commerce, Gina McCarthy for the EPA, and Tom Perez for Labor.

Obama: Finally Ready to Fight? |Michael Tomasky |May 30, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
In true, adorably awkward JLaw fashion, she tripped on her own dress while ascending the steps to accept the award.

The Juvenile Oscars |Marlow Stern |February 25, 2013 |DAILY BEAST

We in the states like to think how China is ascending, but assume that ascent is still years off.

China's Economic Takeover: The World's Next Superpower by 2016 |Paul Kix |April 30, 2011 |DAILY BEAST
Ascending the last steep rise to the ridge behind Little Bandai-san, signs of the great disaster grew in number and intensity.

Complete Story of the San Francisco Horror |Richard Linthicum
Nothing remained to hinder the balloon from ascending but the hands and weight of those who were holding on to it with ropes.

Erewhon |Samuel Butler
Moreover, the passes in ascending the Andes and Cordillera can only be correctly imagined by experienced travellers.

Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2) |Francis Trevithick
The palpitation and dyspnœa were greatly augmented by ascending stairs.

Cases of Organic Diseases of the Heart |John Collins Warren
Ascending the Leeba, we enter on a plain more than eighteen miles in breadth, where the water rises to the travellers ankles.

The Desert World |Arthur Mangin

British Dictionary definitions for ascending (1 of 2)

ascending

/ (əˈsɛndɪŋ) /

adjective

moving upwards; rising

botany sloping or curving upwards the ascending stem of a vine

British Dictionary definitions for ascending (2 of 2)

ascend

/ (əˈsɛnd) /

verb

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

(intr) to slope or incline upwards

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

to follow (a river) upstream towards its source

to trace (a genealogy, etc) back in time

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

ascend the throne to become king or queen

Word Origin for ascend

C14: from Latin ascendere, from scandere

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

ascending

adjective

Origin of ascending

OTHER WORDS FROM ascending

Words nearby ascending

Definition for ascending (2 of 2)

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

Origin of ascend

SYNONYMS FOR ascend

ANTONYMS FOR ascend

OTHER WORDS FROM ascend

Example sentences from the Web for ascending

British Dictionary definitions for ascending (1 of 2)

adjective

British Dictionary definitions for ascending (2 of 2)

verb

Word Origin for ascend

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

ascending

adjective

Origin of ascending

OTHER WORDS FROM ascending

Words nearby ascending

Definition for ascending (2 of 2)

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

Origin of ascend

SYNONYMS FOR ascend

ANTONYMS FOR ascend

OTHER WORDS FROM ascend

Words related to ascending

Example sentences from the Web for ascending

British Dictionary definitions for ascending (1 of 2)

adjective

British Dictionary definitions for ascending (2 of 2)

verb

Word Origin for ascend