Word
ascend
Phoneticsas·cend, stress on the second syllable
US/əˈsɛnd/
UK/ɐsˈɛnd/
Definitions
01to move upward
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to go up or move towards a higher place.
v. to move, climb, or rise upward. Often used intransitively or with a direct object like 'stairs' or 'mountain'.
Español:ascender
“The hikers watched the mist ascend from the valley as the sun rose.”
“The climbers began to ascend the final peak just as the weather conditions started to deteriorate.”
Antonyms
02to take the throne
C1 · Advanced Formal
v. to become the new king, queen, or leader.
v. to succeed to a position of high authority, most commonly used in the phrase 'ascend the throne'.
“The young prince will ascend the throne following his father's retirement.”
“Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne in 1952, marking the beginning of a historic reign.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03to rise in pitch
B2 · Upper Intermediate Music Technical
v. to move from lower notes to higher notes in music.
v. to move upward in musical pitch or to perform a scale in an upward direction.
“The singer's voice seemed to ascend effortlessly during the final chorus.”
“The melody line continues to ascend through three octaves, creating a sense of growing tension before the resolution.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
04to slope upward
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to lead or point upward, like a road or a path.
v. to slope or lead in an upward direction.
“The narrow path began to ascend sharply after we crossed the river.”
“The road ascends gradually for several miles before reaching the plateau at the top of the ridge.”
Synonyms
Usage
The verb can be used both transitively ('ascend the stairs') and intransitively ('the balloon began to ascend').
Real-World Examples
“By the time police officers managed to contact the boy’s father, he had ascended to the eighth station, a three-hour hike from where he had left his son.” “When he ascended the throne, responsibility for the estate was passed to Prince William.” Etymology
From Middle English ascenden, borrowed from Old French ascendre, from Latin ascendō (“to go up, climb up to”), from ad (“to”) + scandō (“to climb”); see scan. Unrelated to accede other than common ad prefix.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/ascend
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0