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
Synonyms
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
Nevertheless, hopeful hikers have continuously trespassed – while causing disturbances – through residential neighborhoods and private property to ascend the nearly 4,000 World War II-era steel stairs for a panoramic view of Oahu.
—
Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 26 Apr. 2024
Kinlaw, taken at No. 14, never ascended to his draft status mostly because of knee trouble and signed this offseason with the New York Jets after four seasons, with the 49ers declining his fifth-year option.
—Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 25 Apr. 2024
Despite continuing to ascend the chart, the song still lacks a major throughline trend, with uploads using the tune ranging from memes to general-interest clips.
—Kevin Rutherford, Billboard, 25 Apr. 2024
Share [Findings] Children, unlike adults, are resilient against the Pinocchio Illusion when their fingers are pulled upward in sync with a tone ascending from 700 to 1200 Hz.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 24 Apr. 2024
Amenities: Pool, restaurants, bar, fitness center, spa Bonus Tip: Bikes are provided to guests eager to explore the lavender fields, medieval villages or to those courageous enough to ascend up Mount Ventoux.
—Monica Mendal, Vogue, 24 Apr. 2024
Here, guests ascend onto a stage-like dining platform for a performative experience that showcases north of 50 selections.
—David Morris, Travel + Leisure, 19 Apr. 2024
Just three weeks before the catastrophe aboard Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, Boeing announced that Pope would ascend to chief operating officer on Jan. 1, making her heir apparent to Calhoun.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 13 Apr. 2024
Elevations rise to 1,000 feet in the Vaca Range on the east side of the AVA, where grapes receive sun late in the day, while afternoon shade is one of the benefits to vineyards planted in the Mayacamas Mountains on the west side, which ascend to a less extreme 500 feet.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 11 Apr. 2024
Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 26 Apr. 2024
Kinlaw, taken at No. 14, never ascended to his draft status mostly because of knee trouble and signed this offseason with the New York Jets after four seasons, with the 49ers declining his fifth-year option.
—Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 25 Apr. 2024
Despite continuing to ascend the chart, the song still lacks a major throughline trend, with uploads using the tune ranging from memes to general-interest clips.
—Kevin Rutherford, Billboard, 25 Apr. 2024
Share [Findings] Children, unlike adults, are resilient against the Pinocchio Illusion when their fingers are pulled upward in sync with a tone ascending from 700 to 1200 Hz.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 24 Apr. 2024
Amenities: Pool, restaurants, bar, fitness center, spa Bonus Tip: Bikes are provided to guests eager to explore the lavender fields, medieval villages or to those courageous enough to ascend up Mount Ventoux.
—Monica Mendal, Vogue, 24 Apr. 2024
Here, guests ascend onto a stage-like dining platform for a performative experience that showcases north of 50 selections.
—David Morris, Travel + Leisure, 19 Apr. 2024
Just three weeks before the catastrophe aboard Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, Boeing announced that Pope would ascend to chief operating officer on Jan. 1, making her heir apparent to Calhoun.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 13 Apr. 2024
Elevations rise to 1,000 feet in the Vaca Range on the east side of the AVA, where grapes receive sun late in the day, while afternoon shade is one of the benefits to vineyards planted in the Mayacamas Mountains on the west side, which ascend to a less extreme 500 feet.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 11 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ascend.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near ascend
Cite this Entry
“Ascend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ascend. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.
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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