Word
descending
Phoneticsde·scend·ing, stress on the second syllable
US/dɪˈsɛndɪŋ/
UK/dɪsˈɛndɪŋ/
Definitions
01moving downwards
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. moving or sloping down towards a lower place.
adj. moving, sloping, or extending in a downward direction.
“The plane began its descending path toward the airport runway.”
“The hikers followed a steep, descending trail that wound through the valley until it reached the riverbank.”
02sorting order
B2 · Upper Intermediate Computing
adj. arranged in a list from the highest number or latest letter to the lowest.
adj. ordered such that each successive element is less than or equal to the preceding one.
“You can sort the prices in descending order to see the most expensive items first.”
“The database query returned the results in descending order of relevance, ensuring the most pertinent documents appeared at the top of the list.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03musical pitch
C1 · Advanced Music Technical
adj. moving from a high note to a lower note.
adj. characterised by a progression from a higher to a lower musical pitch.
“The song ends with a beautiful descending scale on the piano.”
“The composer utilised a series of descending chromatic phrases to evoke a sense of melancholy throughout the second movement.”
Antonyms
04the act of going down
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Literary
n. the act of moving downwards.
n. the action or process of moving downward; a descent.
“The slow descending of the sun turned the sky a deep orange.”
“The sudden descending of the mist blinded the climbers, forcing them to halt their progress immediately.”
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“Another type of grounding involves visualizing energy descending through the body from head to toe.” “The goal is not to avoid these dynamics but to strengthen the group's capacity to navigate them without descending into defensiveness, escalation or rigid roles.” Etymology
From descend + -ing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domains
- 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/descending