# descending

/dɪˈsɛndɪŋ/ (US) · /dɪsˈɛndɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/descending
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. moving downwards

adjective · CEFR B2

moving or sloping down towards a lower place.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. sorting order

adjective · CEFR B2

arranged in a list from the highest number or latest letter to the lowest.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. musical pitch

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

moving from a high note to a lower note.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. the act of going down

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

the act of moving downwards.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The hikers followed a descending path down the mountain.
- The software allows you to sort your files in descending order, showing the newest items at the top of the list.
- The piece of music concludes with a series of descending scales that create a sense of calm and resolution as the volume gradually fades into silence.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.