plural descents
formal
1
: the act or process of descending: such as
a
: the act or process of going from a higher to a lower place or level
—usually singular
The climbers were faced with a dangerous descent in bad weather.
the submarine's descent
After only an hour of flight, the pilot announced our descent.
b
: the act or process or changing to a worse state or condition
The book describes his descent into a deep depression after the death of his wife.
her slow descent to a life of addiction
2
: a way of going down something : a downward slope, path, etc.
The only path that goes down to the river is a rather steep descent, so be careful.
3
: the people in your family who lived before you were born : your ancestors
Many people in this area are of German descent. [=ancestry]
They claim to be of royal descent. [=they say that their ancestors were kings, queens, etc.]
Cite this Entry
“Descent.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/descent. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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