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

• ascension
• climb
• rise
• rising
• soar

Example Sentences

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

What played out last week under the Capitol dome was a caustic strike on a politician whose ascent had been swift. —Los Angeles Times, 7 Jan. 2023

His ascent is reminiscent of Accelerate, another Sadler trainee who won the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs. —Jason Frakes, The Courier-Journal, 2 Nov. 2022

But her ascent to the top of her sport wasn’t all luck. —Jane Hanson, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2022

Though Meloni’s apparent ascent to power is unprecedented in a country where politics have been dominated by men, feminists in the country are hardly celebrating it as a win for women. —Paige Mcglauflin, Fortune, 27 Sep. 2022

His who-is-this-guy training-camp ascent, back in ‘14, was one of the best stories of preseasons past. —Chad Finn, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Aug. 2022

Less predictable was his ascent from a junior staff job at the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway to the chief executive’s post at the rail giant CSX Corp. —James R. Hagerty, WSJ, 5 Aug. 2022

Its ascent is especially remarkable considering where the firm — and McElwee — started. —New York Times, 29 June 2022

Her ascent to the pros was fascinating for people like Thomas to watch because of her storied career at Iowa. —Jenna Ortiz, The Arizona Republic, 12 June 2022

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Word History

Etymology

irregular from ascend

First Known Use

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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