descend

descend

verb

Definition of DESCEND

1

to lead or extend downward <the pathway descends to the river bank>

Synonyms decline, dip, drop, fall, plunge, sink

Related Words angle, cant, cock, heel, incline, lean, list, recline, slant, slope, tilt, tip

Near Antonyms even, flatten, level, plane, smooth, straighten

Antonyms arise, ascend, climb, mount, rise, uprise, upsweep, upturn

2

to become worse or of less value <the family's economic fortunes descended to the point where they were finally homeless>

Synonyms atrophy, crumble, decay, decline, degenerate, descend, devolve, ebb, regress, retrograde, rot, sink, worsen

Related Words abate, de-escalate, diminish, downsize, dwindle, recede, wane; break down, corrupt, decompose, degrade, dilapidate, disintegrate, molder, putrefy; sour, spoil; lessen, lower, reduce; debilitate, undermine; droop, fail, fall, flag, lag, languish, run down, sag, slip, waste (away), weaken, wilt

Near Antonyms better, upgrade; enhance, enrich, fortify, heighten, intensify, strengthen; advance, develop, march, proceed, progress

Antonyms ameliorate, improve, meliorate

3

to go to a lower level especially abruptly <leaves slowly descended from the branches in the gentle autumn wind>

Synonyms crash, crater, decline, descend, dip, dive, fall, lower, nose-dive, plummet, plunge, sink, skid, tumble

Related Words abate, decrease, de-escalate, die (down), diminish, droop, dwindle, ebb, lessen, let up, moderate, subside, taper off, wane; recede, retreat

Near Antonyms accumulate, balloon, build, burgeon (also bourgeon), enlarge, escalate, expand, grow, increase, intensify, mushroom, pick up, snowball, swell, wax

Antonyms arise, ascend, lift, mount, rise, soar, spike, up

4

to come down from something (as a vehicle) <the driver descended from the truck's cab, dreading to see what he had hit>

Synonyms descend, disembark, dismount, get down, light

Related Words deplane, detrain

Near Antonyms board, climb (aboard), get in, mount; enplane (also emplane), entrain

Antonyms embark