ascent

as·cent

noun \ə-ˈsent, a-\

Definition of ASCENT

1

a :  the act of rising or mounting upward :  climb

b :  an upward slope or rising grade :  acclivity

c :  the degree of elevation :  inclination, gradient

2

:  an advance in social status or reputation :  progress

3

:  a going back in time or upward in order of genealogical succession

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Examples of ASCENT

1. They followed a steep ascent to the top of the hill.
2. <our plane broke through some heavy low clouds during its ascent and leveled off once we were above them>

Origin of ASCENT

irregular from ascend

First Known Use: circa 1596

Related to ASCENT

Synonyms

ascension, climb, rise, rising, soar

Antonyms

descent, dip, dive, drop, fall, nosedive, plunge

Related Words

boost, hike, increase, raise; blastoff, elevation, hoist, levitation, liftoff, raising, takeoff; heave, thrust, upheaval, uplifting, upraising, upsurge, upsweep, upswing, upthrust, uptrend, upturn, upwelling

Near Antonyms

plop, plummeting, sinking; decline, decrease, down; comedown, downfall, downgrade

Rhymes with ASCENT

absent, accent, Advent, anent, assent, augment, besprent, cement, comment, consent, content, convent, descent, detent, dissent, docent, event, extent, ferment, foment, fragment, frequent, hell-bent, indent, intent, invent, lament, loment, low-rent, mordent, outspent, percent, pigment, portent, present, prevent, pup tent, quitrent, rack-rent, relent, repent, resent, segment, Shymkent, Tashkent, torment, well-meant, wisent