ascendance

noun

as·​cen·​dance ə-ˈsen-dən(t)s How to pronounce ascendance (audio)
variants or less commonly ascendence

Examples of ascendance in a Sentence

studied the ascendance of modernism in 20th-century art and design
Recent Examples on the Web Apple’s path to automobile ascendance may even provide a road map for its approach to generative AI. Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 28 Feb. 2024 This time, the movie is notably up front about Celie’s queerness, offers more nuanced characterizations of the story’s Black men and dwells less on Celie’s abuse than on her ascendance from difficult circumstance. Los Angeles Times Staff, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2024 But this has not happened, partly because of the ascendance of the Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Ramachandra Guha, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024 This seems prescient, given Kennedy’s recent ascendance in a political sphere already filled with demagogues, some in Congress who are politicizing dangerous nonsense about vaccines. Keith Kloor, Scientific American, 22 Nov. 2023 In Washington today, countering China’s technological ascendance is that rare objective that captures support on both sides of the political aisle. Peter S. Goodman Ulet Ifansasti, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2023 Despite Khamenei’s ascendance to the post of supreme leader, Rafsanjani was initially the man in charge. Christian Schneider, National Review, 21 Dec. 2023 But the ascendance of skateboarding from an underground street diversion into a major industry and legitimate sports enterprise coincided with a transformation of its image in suburbs across America. Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2024 Footage flashes between black-and-white and full-color scenes, showcasing Leonard and Felicia meeting and falling in love, Bernstein's ascendance to world-renowned conductor — and Felicia's realization that Leonard is living a double life as a gay man. Marisa Sullivan, Peoplemag, 22 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ascendance.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1715, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ascendance was in 1715

Dictionary Entries Near ascendance

Cite this Entry

“Ascendance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ascendance. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

ascendance

noun
as·​cen·​dance ə-ˈsen-dən(t)s How to pronounce ascendance (audio)
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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