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

Celebrity Skin follows, and so does the eventual alienation of anyone Courtney thinks is holding back her ascent into the stratosphere. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 28 Jan. 2026

In 2018, Honnold’s 3,000-foot ascent of the El Capitan summit’s rock face in Yosemite National Park in California without the use of ropes or nets was chronicled in the Oscar-winning documentary feature Free Solo. —Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026

The ascent is a total of 230 feet. —Sean Gregory, Time, 28 Jan. 2026

Eighteen Mile Creek in Hamburg is another such destination, offering over 25 icy ascents for ice climbers in the Buffalo area. —Brian Higgins, Outside, 28 Jan. 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