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
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 white marble staircase makes a dramatic ascent to the upper level, where all of the bedrooms are located.
—
Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 24 Apr. 2024
Through two conversations with Zendaya—one in Paris, during couture week; another over Zoom, with Zendaya’s hero Serena Williams—Marley details the 27-year-old's rapid ascent to stardom and the challenges of growing up so fast.
—Vogue Club, Vogue, 23 Apr. 2024
The road makes an easy ascent, dodging junipers, catclaw and a smattering of firs and ponderosa pines.
—Mare Czinar, The Arizona Republic, 18 Apr. 2024
The simulator chair rotates only on one axis—nose up or nose down—to capture the vehicle’s jarring ascent.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024
Advertisement The 34-year-old actor’s high-profile domestic violence case brought his quick ascent to Hollywood stardom to a screeching halt as studios shelved upcoming film projects starring Majors, publicity and management firms reportedly dropped the actor and he was cut from ad campaigns.
—Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024
In her new memoir, Rebel Wilson is revealing the numbers behind her ascent to superstar status in Hollywood.
—Jack Smart, Peoplemag, 3 Apr. 2024
And yet, the ascent of India in the world economy seems preordained.
—Alex Travelli, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2024
However, the recent ascent of interest rates has added a new dimension to this scenario.
—Christian Oberbeck, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 24 Apr. 2024
Through two conversations with Zendaya—one in Paris, during couture week; another over Zoom, with Zendaya’s hero Serena Williams—Marley details the 27-year-old's rapid ascent to stardom and the challenges of growing up so fast.
—Vogue Club, Vogue, 23 Apr. 2024
The road makes an easy ascent, dodging junipers, catclaw and a smattering of firs and ponderosa pines.
—Mare Czinar, The Arizona Republic, 18 Apr. 2024
The simulator chair rotates only on one axis—nose up or nose down—to capture the vehicle’s jarring ascent.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024
Advertisement The 34-year-old actor’s high-profile domestic violence case brought his quick ascent to Hollywood stardom to a screeching halt as studios shelved upcoming film projects starring Majors, publicity and management firms reportedly dropped the actor and he was cut from ad campaigns.
—Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024
In her new memoir, Rebel Wilson is revealing the numbers behind her ascent to superstar status in Hollywood.
—Jack Smart, Peoplemag, 3 Apr. 2024
And yet, the ascent of India in the world economy seems preordained.
—Alex Travelli, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2024
However, the recent ascent of interest rates has added a new dimension to this scenario.
—Christian Oberbeck, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ascent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to ascent
Dictionary Entries Near ascent
Cite this Entry
“Ascent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ascent. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share