ascends; ascended; ascending
1
formal
: to go up : to rise or move toward the sky
They watched their balloons slowly ascend into the sky.
Divers must not ascend too rapidly/quickly to the water's surface.
She believed that when she died, her soul would ascend to heaven.
Most people are able to ascend [=climb] the mountain in less than four hours.
She said good night and ascended [=climbed] the stairs to her room.
2
: to slope or lead upward
Several paths ascend to the top of the mountain.
stairs ascending to the attic
3
: to rise to a higher or more powerful position in a government, company, etc.
John Adams ascended to the presidency in 1797.
She worked as a clerk before ascending to her current position.
A new national government ascended [=rose] to power. [=it gained control of the country]
Cite this Entry
“Ascend.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/ascend. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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