descend

de·scend

verb \di-ˈsend, dē-\

Definition of DESCEND

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

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

: to incline, lead, or extend downward <the road descends to the river>

5

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

7

a : to lower oneself in status or dignity : stoop b : to worsen and sink in condition or estimation

transitive verb

1

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

2

: to extend down along

— de·scend·ible \-ˈsen-də-bəl\ adjective

Examples of DESCEND

1. Wait for the elevator to descend.
2. The workers descended into the hole.
3. A herd of goats descended into the valley.
4. The airplane will descend to a lower altitude soon.
5. Descending the mountain was even more dangerous than climbing it.
6. The children descended the staircase silently.
7. The path descends to the river.
8. The stairs descended into the tunnel.

Origin of DESCEND

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

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to DESCEND

Synonyms: decline, dip, drop, fall, plunge, sink

Antonyms: arise, ascend, climb, mount, rise, uprise, upsweep, upturn

Related Words: angle, cant, cock, heel, incline, lean, list, recline, slant, slope, tilt, tip

Near Antonyms: even, flatten, level, plane, smooth, straighten

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with DESCEND

addend, amend, append, ascend, attend, bartend, befriend, Big Bend, bookend, boyfriend, closed-end, commend, compend, contend, dead end, dead-end, defend, depend, distend, downtrend, emend, expend, extend, fag end, forfend, front-end, girlfriend, Gravesend, headend, high-end, hornblende, impend, intend, Land's End, loose end, low-end, missend, misspend, next friend, no end, offend, on end, Ostend, outspend, perpend, pitchblende, portend, pretend, propend, protend, rear-end, resend, sheet bend, South Bend, split end, stipend, subtend, suspend, tag end, tail end, tight end, top-end, transcend, unbend, unkenned, upend, uptrend, weekend, year-end