ascended; ascending; ascends
1
a
: to move upward
the balloon ascended
b
: to slope upward
The path ascends through the woods.
c
: to conduct nerve impulses toward or to the brain
an ascending somatosensory pathway
2
a
: to rise from a lower level or degree
ascend to power
b
: to go back in time or in order of genealogical succession
c
: to pass from lower to higher musical notes
C – E ascending
1
: to go or move up
ascend a staircase
2
: to succeed to : occupy
ascend the throne
Examples of ascend in a Sentence
They watched their balloons slowly ascend into the sky.
Divers must not ascend too rapidly to the water's surface.
She believed that when she died, her soul would ascend to heaven.
Several paths ascend to the top of the mountain.
stairs ascending to the attic
John Adams ascended to the presidency in 1797.
She worked as a clerk before ascending to her current position.
Recent Examples on the Web
Join the crowds taking photos of the ornate building from the piazza, and then ascend to the terrace to marvel at the 135 gargoyles and other carvings up close and take in the city’s skyline.
—
Laura Itzkowitz, AFAR Media, 3 Oct. 2025
According to the outlet, Princess Kate had ascended the stairs for a closer look at the cockpit and appeared to assure her guide that her shoes wouldn't stop her.
—Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025
No one player will come close to replicating the impact of their ascending star receiver, so the Giants must hope a bunch of them step up to give Dart options and help the offense stay afloat throughout the remainder of the season.
—Charlotte Carroll, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
That group still reports to Hron, who ascended to the CTO role in July 2024.
—John Kell, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ascend
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Laura Itzkowitz, AFAR Media, 3 Oct. 2025
According to the outlet, Princess Kate had ascended the stairs for a closer look at the cockpit and appeared to assure her guide that her shoes wouldn't stop her.
—Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025
No one player will come close to replicating the impact of their ascending star receiver, so the Giants must hope a bunch of them step up to give Dart options and help the offense stay afloat throughout the remainder of the season.
—Charlotte Carroll, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
That group still reports to Hron, who ascended to the CTO role in July 2024.
—John Kell, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ascend
Cite this Entry
“Ascend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ascend. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ascend
verb
as·cend
ə-ˈsend 
Medical Definition
ascend
intransitive verb
as·cend
ə-ˈsend
: to move upward: as
a
: to conduct nerve impulses toward or to the brain
nerve fibers that ascend to a nucleus of the brain
ascending and descending tracts
b
: to affect the extremities and especially the lower limbs first and then the central nervous system
ascending paralysis
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