descend

verb

de·​scend di-ˈsend 

dē-

descended; descending; descends

intransitive verb

1

: to pass from a higher place or level to a lower one

descended from the platform

2

: to pass in discussion from what is logically prior or more comprehensive

descends from the general to the specific

3

a

: to originate or come from an ancestral stock or source : derive

descends from an old merchant family

b

: to pass by inheritance

a desk that has descended in the family

c

: to pass by transmission

songs descended from old ballads

4

a

: to incline, lead, or extend downward

the road descends to the river

b

physiology : to conduct nerve impulses away from the brain

… lesions that interrupt the descending pathways from the cortex or brain stem produce weakness in voluntary movements …

—Claude Ghez and John Krakauer

5

a

: to swoop or pounce down (as in a sudden attack)

a hawk descending upon its prey

b

: to appear suddenly and often disconcertingly as if from above

reporters descended on the candidate

6

: to proceed in a sequence or gradation from higher to lower or from more remote to nearer or more recent

Their scores were listed in descending order.

7

a

: to lower oneself in status or dignity : stoop

b

: to worsen and sink in condition or estimation

He descended into a deep depression.

descended to poverty

descend into chaos

c

: to pass from higher to lower musical notes

The harmony descends chromatically.

transitive verb

1

: to pass, move, or climb down or down along

descending the staircase

2

: to extend down along

a narrow scar descended her arm

descendible

di-ˈsen-də-bəl 

dē-

adjective

Synonyms

• decline
• dip
• drop
• fall
• plunge
• sink

Examples of descend in a Sentence

Wait for the elevator to descend.

The workers descended into the hole.

A herd of goats descended into the valley.

The airplane will descend to a lower altitude soon.

Descending the mountain was even more dangerous than climbing it.

The children descended the staircase silently.

The path descends to the river.

The stairs descended into the tunnel.

Recent Examples on the Web

With these militarized factions attacking one another relentlessly, the entire country has descended into poverty and lawlessness, and Lee has seen and photographed it all. —Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2024

On the precipice of finally descending into madness, Roger asks The Ghoul for help. —EW.com, 11 Apr. 2024

As previously reported, Phish will descend on the Sphere April 18-21, with each performance boasting unique setlists and visuals. —Spin Staff, SPIN, 11 Apr. 2024

The celebratory gathering descended into chaos amid the gunfire. —Daniel Wu, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024

The expiration of the previous deal descended into acrimony when the two sides alleged bad-faith negotiations for a renewal of the terms. —Sabrina Mao, Fortune Asia, 10 Apr. 2024

By the middle of the war, in July 2021, the international Famine Review Committee found that without a cease-fire and immediate large-scale aid, Tigray would descend into famine. —Alex De Waal, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2024

Thousands of people descended on the banks of Lake Champlain to take in the total eclipse. —Riley Robinson, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Apr. 2024

Flower beds rolled into grass that descended into a grove of nearly two dozen trees lorded over by a towering 80-year-old oak. —Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French descendre, from Latin descendere, from de- + scandere to climb — more at scan

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 3b

Phrases Containing descend

• descend to
• descend from
• descend/sink/stoop to someone's level

Kids Definition

descend

verb

de·​scend di-ˈsend 

1

: to pass from a higher to a lower place or level

2

a

: to originate or come down from a source : derive

descended from an ancient family

b

: to be handed down to an heir or from an earlier time

the mansion descended to a son

a custom descended from ancient times

3

a

: to incline, lead, or extend downward

the road descends to the river

b

: to pass, move, or climb down or down along

4

: to make a sudden attack by or as if by swooping down

5

: to sink in status, dignity, or condition

Medical Definition

descend

intransitive verb

de·​scend di-ˈsend 

: to pass from a higher place or level to a lower one

normally the testicle descends into the scrotum between the seventh and ninth month in utero

—Therapeutic Notes

Legal Definition

descend

intransitive verb

de·​scend di-ˈsend 

: to pass by inheritance

descendibility

-ˌsen-də-ˈbi-lə-tē

noun

descendible

-ˈsen-də-bəl 

adjective