descent
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
the act of moving from a higher place to a lower one.
the act or process of moving downwards from a higher altitude or position.
Simple“The plane began its final descent into the airport.”
In context“The pilot requested a gradual descent to avoid the turbulence reported at lower altitudes by previous flights.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
a path, road, or slope that goes down.
a downward slope, incline, or a physical route leading to a lower level.
Simple“The descent from the mountain top was steep and rocky.”
In context“The cyclists had to check their brakes frequently during the long, winding descent into the valley below.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
your family background or where your ancestors came from.
the origin or background of a person in terms of family or nationality; lineage.
Simple“She is of Italian descent and speaks the language fluently.”
In context“The historian traced the family's descent back to the seventeenth century, uncovering several notable figures in the process.”
UsageOften used with the preposition 'of'.
Synonyms - 04 C1 Advanced
a change to a worse or lower condition.
a metaphorical movement to a lower state, quality, or condition.
Simple“The book describes the king's descent into madness.”
In context“The documentary chronicles the city's slow descent from an industrial powerhouse to a struggling urban centre.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 05 C2 Proficiency
a sudden visit or attack by a group of people.
a sudden or violent attack, invasion, or unexpected visit.
Simple“The quiet village was not prepared for the descent of thousands of tourists.”
In context“The sudden descent of the enemy troops upon the coastal fort caught the garrison entirely by surprise.”
“The flight crew put on their oxygen masks, declared an emergency and began an immediate descent.”
“But the engine vibrations then increased and the crew heard a loud bang, prompting them to declare an emergency and begin their descent.”
From Middle English and Anglo-Norman descente, from Anglo-Norman descendre (“to descend”); see descend. Compare ascent, ascend. Doublet of desant.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.