descend

verb

di-ˈsend How to pronounce descend (audio)
Definition of descendnext
1
as in to fall
to lead or extend downward the pathway descends to the river bank

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2
as in to deteriorate
to become worse or of less value the order of the classroom descended into chaos when the teacher left the room

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3
as in to plunge
to go to a lower level especially abruptly leaves slowly descended from the branches in the gentle autumn wind wait for the elevator to descend

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4
as in to dismount
to come down from something (as a vehicle) the driver descended from the truck's cab, dreading to see what he had hit

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of descend The drive winds through the verdant mountains of eastern Antioquia before descending into the Aburrá Valley, where Medellín stretches across the valley floor and surrounding hillsides. — Nikkita Nair, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026 The Transportation Safety Board of Canada said the crew reported electrical difficulties as the aircraft approached the Boston area before the jet descended rapidly and air traffic control lost contact south of Nantucket. — Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026 Simultaneously Russian public health officials descend on the region. — Krutika Kuppalli, STAT, 6 Oct. 2026 The aviation tracking site Flightradar24 said data shows at one point the plane descended more than 14,000 feet, or nearly three miles, in under 30 seconds — way faster than normal. — Kat Lonsdorf, NPR, 5 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for descend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for descend
  1. fall
  2. deteriorate
  3. plunge
  4. dismount
  5. slope
  6. crumble
  7. dip
  8. disembark
Verb
  • On the price front, China's residential prices have already fallen by 22% since a 2021 peak, compared with a 67% drop in Japan's after a far greater run-up in prices, the S&P report said.
    — Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Insider buying fell 18% to 1,290 buyers, down from 1,580 in the second quarter.
    — Morgan Chittum, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of fall
Verb
  • In the 1990s, plans to demolish the deteriorating site and replace it with an underground car park sparked fierce opposition from local residents and traders, who successfully campaigned to save it.
    — Alessia Armenise, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2026
  • How much longer the current cycle can continue may depend on market breadth, which has deteriorated.
    — Sarah Min, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of deteriorate
Verb
  • Kardashian’s dress, form-fitted with cap sleeves and a plunging neckline, was ornately patterned.
    — Erin Wisti, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026
  • By then, the plane had plunged fourteen thousand feet in just twenty-nine seconds, according to data from Flightradar24, an aviation-tracking firm.
    — Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of plunge
Verb
  • Buck has long since dismounted from his high horse, but people who live in glass houses that are also occupied by Mike Darnell should probably be a bit more judicious when hucking rocks.
    — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Governing bodies in neighboring San Ramon, San Anselmo in Marin County, and Burlingame in San Mateo County have adopted similar policies requiring people to dismount e-bikes when traveling through public parks.
    — Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of dismount
Verb
  • The backstory Seminary Hill Catskills is named after the south-sloping hillside with stunning views of the Delaware River Valley where it's situated, home to a now-shuttered former seminary.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2026
  • That’s paired with down-sloping winds and uncharacteristically warm ocean temperatures, driven in part by El Niño, that weaken sea breezes.
    — Blanca Begert, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of slope
Verb
  • By Saturday night, Long Beach reported that seawater had entered homes and into streets, with the city’s Peninsula neighborhood being hard hit, and its boardwalk crumbling.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026
  • As Ray goes down the rabbit hole, the shiny facade of Metropia and Megamax (which is, notably and obviously evil from the start) begin to crumble.
    — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of crumble
Verb
  • On a senior-laden team with high expectations last season, there was no time for a sophomore like him to dip his feet into the pool to test the water at the varsity level.
    — Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The Orlane, an A-line midi that also comes in black, is lined and made from 100% wool—wear it with knee-high boots to keep warm as the temperatures dip.
    — Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of dip
Verb
  • Sailors began disembarking the USS Lincoln on Thursday following a deployment that included a record 265 uninterrupted days at sea and reports of supply shortages and deteriorating mental health among the crew.
    — Julie Watson, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Scores of new fathers kissed their babies for the first time, couples cried and embraced and hundreds of parents let out a collective sigh of relief as the crew disembarked on the north end of the Coronado peninsula.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of disembark

Phrases Containing descend

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Cite this Entry

“Descend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descend. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

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