ascent

noun

as·​cent ə-ˈsent 

a-

1

a

: the act of rising or mounting upward : climb

completed their ascent of the mountain

b

: an upward slope or rising grade : acclivity

followed the steep ascent to the top of the hill

c

: the degree of elevation : inclination, gradient

2

: an advance in social status or reputation : progress

their ascent from the lower class to the middle class

3

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

Synonyms of ascent

• climb
• ascension

Examples of ascent in a Sentence

They followed a steep ascent to the top of the hill.

our plane broke through some heavy low clouds during its ascent and leveled off once we were above them

Recent Examples on the Web

The coming days are more hilly than truly mountainous, though that may not stop Pogačar from forcing gaps, with stage nine’s ascent in Aitana, in Alicante, part of a day featuring 5000m of elevation. — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026

The announcement comes as Haywire continues the rapid ascent SPIN previously chronicled around its unlikely connection with fellow Boston institution Dropkick Murphys. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 19 Aug. 2026

The ascent of Polymarket, Kalshi, and other event prediction markets has led to new opportunities for insider trading. — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 18 Aug. 2026

An eye-popping ascent in bond yields is raising alarm on Wall Street that the artificial intelligence trade could see some new financial pressure. — Alex Harring, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

irregular from ascend

First Known Use

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for ascent

• accent
• advent
• assent
• augment
• cement
• consent
• dement
• descent
• detent
• dissent
• event
• extent

Kids Definition

ascent

noun

as·​cent ə-ˈsent 

a-

1

: the act of rising or climbing up

began their ascent of the mountain

2

: an upward slope