1
as in climbs
the act or an instance of rising or climbing up
our plane broke through some heavy low clouds during its ascent and leveled off once we were above them
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hills
an upward slope
we'd reached the final ascent of the trail to the summit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in promotions
a raising or a state of being raised to a higher rank or position
his long, gradual ascent into the ranks of management
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ascents
By 1995, the Magic had reached the NBA Finals, one of the fastest ascents in league history.
—
Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Mar. 2026
But unsurprisingly, the race is usually decided on the climbs — classic ascents such as the Molenberg, Muur van Geraardsbergen, and the Bosberg splintering the peloton.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2026
Leads Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie went, seemingly overnight, from two dudes no one had heard of to the hottest young stars in the biz, in the sort of Cinderella story that tends to get fans personally invested in their ascents.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 24 Feb. 2026
The female athlete starts first, making two ascents, two descents and one section on foot.
—Stephen J. Beard, USA Today, 19 Feb. 2026
There have been ascents on Denali and Aconcagua and attempts to swim the English Channel.
—Outside Online, 18 Feb. 2026
The film offers a sharp study of what drives so many to attempt near-impossible ascents, and why audiences can’t stop watching them in turn.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2026
Teams of male and female competitors will race on longer courses than the sprints, with two ascents and two descents.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 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
Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Mar. 2026
But unsurprisingly, the race is usually decided on the climbs — classic ascents such as the Molenberg, Muur van Geraardsbergen, and the Bosberg splintering the peloton.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2026
Leads Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie went, seemingly overnight, from two dudes no one had heard of to the hottest young stars in the biz, in the sort of Cinderella story that tends to get fans personally invested in their ascents.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 24 Feb. 2026
The female athlete starts first, making two ascents, two descents and one section on foot.
—Stephen J. Beard, USA Today, 19 Feb. 2026
There have been ascents on Denali and Aconcagua and attempts to swim the English Channel.
—Outside Online, 18 Feb. 2026
The film offers a sharp study of what drives so many to attempt near-impossible ascents, and why audiences can’t stop watching them in turn.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2026
Teams of male and female competitors will race on longer courses than the sprints, with two ascents and two descents.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ascents
Noun
-
Hikes range from easy 3 to 5-mile loops along the valley floor, like the Puente de los Papuos, to 10- to 13-mile ridge routes with steep climbs and wide views over the sea of cherry trees, such as the La Garganta del Infierno.—
Alexandra Gillespie,
Outside,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The auto-assist mode simplifies things further by adjusting assist based on the slope, delivering maximum torque on steep climbs, and easing off on flatter sections.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
1 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Bookended by rocky hills, Jale Beach, located just north of Himara, is known for its more intimate atmosphere.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Snow will be heaviest in the mountains and hills along Interstate 70 and just south of the highway.—
Elise Schmelzer,
Denver Post,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Department of Justice’s 2024 lawsuit alleges that Live Nation has illegally dominated the live concert industry by monopolizing ticketing, concert booking, venues and promotions.—
Marissa Martinez,
NBC news,
4 Mar. 2026
-
The club has had a remarkable turnaround since, securing league promotions, bringing in blue chip sponsors, and making the entertainment titans the toast of the town (population of about 45,000).—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The fiesta features morning mass ascensions, afterglow balloons and lively entertainment.—
Emese Maczko,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The result is a strong ability to climb inclines, and better balance on more rugged, technical terrain.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Yards with narrow passages, tight corners, and many obstacles like trees, shrubs, or garden beds, or steep inclines make the use of a riding lawnmower, especially a traditional riding mower, more tedious than helpful.—
Nadia Hassani,
The Spruce,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Specific goals, apart from AI, electric vehicles and robotics, include making advancements in semiconductors, batteries, biomedicine and 6G mobile networks.—
Ken Moritsugu,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Politicians are focusing more on white-collar professionals as AI advancements threaten jobs.—
Kayla Hayempour,
NBC news,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
With little light pollution and high elevations, Kings Canyon is one of California’s best places for night-sky viewing.—
Karthika Gupta,
Travel + Leisure,
3 Mar. 2026
-
In lower elevations, including Denver, rain showers are forecast between Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, according to the weather service.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ascents.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ascents. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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