Descend — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /di-ˈsend/ de·scend

Meaning & Definition of Descend

Descend (verb)

  1. to pass from a higher place or level to a lower one
  2. to pass in discussion from what is logically prior or more comprehensive
  3. to originate or come from an ancestral stock or source, derive

Descend (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to lead or extend downward

    "the pathway descends to the river bank"

    similar: decline, dip, drop, fall, plunge, sink
    related: angle, cant, cock, heel, incline, lean, list, recline, slant, slope, tilt, tip
    opposite: arise, ascend, climb, mount, rise, uprise, upsweep, upturn
    near: even, flatten, level, plane, smooth, straighten

  2. to become worse or of less value

    "the order of the classroom descended into chaos when the teacher left the room"

    similar: atrophy, crumble, decay, decline, degenerate, deteriorate, devolve, ebb, regress, retrograde, rot, sink, worsen, go to pot, go to seed
    related: abate, de-escalate, diminish, downsize, dwindle, recede, wane, break down, corrupt, decompose, degrade, dilapidate, disintegrate, molder, putrefy, sour, spoil, lessen, lower, reduce, debilitate, undermine, droop, fail, fall, flag, lag, languish, run down, sag, slip, waste (away), weaken, wilt
    opposite: ameliorate, improve, meliorate
    near: better, upgrade, enhance, enrich, fortify, heighten, intensify, strengthen, advance, develop, march, proceed, progress

  3. to go to a lower level especially abruptly

    "leaves slowly descended from the branches in the gentle autumn wind"

    "wait for the elevator to descend"

    similar: crash, crater, decline, dip, dive, drop, fall, lower, nose-dive, plummet, plunge, sink, skid, tumble
    related: abate, decrease, de-escalate, die (down), diminish, droop, dwindle, ebb, lessen, let up, moderate, subside, taper off, wane, recede, retreat
    opposite: arise, ascend, lift, mount, rise, soar, spike, up
    near: accumulate, balloon, build, burgeon, enlarge, escalate, expand, grow, increase, intensify, mushroom, pick up, snowball, swell, wax

  4. to come down from something (as a vehicle)

    "the driver descended from the truck's cab, dreading to see what he had hit"

    similar: alight, disembark, dismount, get down, light
    related: deplane, detrain
    opposite: embark
    near: board, climb (aboard), get in, mount, enplane, entrain

Related Entry: Descend (on or upon) (verb)

Descend (on or upon) is a different word from Descend. The synonyms below are for descend (on or upon), not for descend.

  1. to take sudden, violent action against

    "the shock troops descended on the village without warning"

    similar: assail, assault, attack, beset, bushwhack, charge, go in (on), jump (on), pounce (on or upon), raid, rush, set on, sic, storm, strike, trash, turn (on), beat up on, fly at, go at, light into, pitch into, round on, set at, set upon, tear into
    related: bum-rush, gang up (on), mob, swarm, mug, rob, ambuscade, ambush, surprise, waylay, blitz, bomb, bombard, nuke, barrage, cannon, cannonade, bang away (at), batter, buffet, plaster, beleaguer, besiege, press, harry, loot, pillage, plunder, ravage, sack, foray, invade, overrun, envelop, flank
    near: cover, defend, guard, protect, secure, shield

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Descend

The most common words with a similar meaning to Descend:

decline, dip, drop, fall, plunge, sink, atrophy, crumble, decay, degenerate, deteriorate, devolve, ebb, regress, retrograde, rot, worsen, crash, crater, dive, lower, nose-dive, plummet, skid, tumble, alight, disembark, dismount, get down, light, go to pot, go to seed

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Descend

Words with the opposite meaning of Descend:

arise, ascend, climb, mount, rise, uprise, upsweep, upturn, ameliorate, improve, meliorate, lift, soar, spike, up, embark

Related Words for Descend

angle, cant, cock, heel, incline, lean, list, recline, slant, slope, tilt, tip, abate, de-escalate, diminish, downsize, dwindle, recede, wane, break down, corrupt, decompose, degrade, dilapidate, disintegrate, molder, putrefy, sour, spoil, lessen

Near Antonyms of Descend

even, flatten, level, plane, smooth, straighten, better, upgrade, enhance, enrich, fortify, heighten, intensify, strengthen, advance, develop, march, proceed, progress, accumulate, balloon, build, burgeon, enlarge, escalate, expand, grow, increase, mushroom, pick up

Word Forms of Descend

Inflections: descended, descending, descends

Derived words: descendible (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Descend

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

First known use: 14th centuryi

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Descend

Words & Phrases Containing Descend

descend from, descend to, descend/sink/stoop to someone's level

Frequently Asked Questions about Descend

What does "Descend" mean?

"Descend" means to pass from a higher place or level to a lower one. As a verb, it is defined as: to pass from a higher place or level to a lower one. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Descend"?

Other words for "Descend" include decline, dip, drop, fall, plunge, sink, atrophy and crumble. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Descend" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Descend"?

There are 85 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Descend". Common alternatives include decline, dip, drop, fall, plunge, sink, atrophy, crumble, decay and degenerate.

What is the opposite of "Descend"?

Antonyms of "Descend" include arise, ascend, climb, mount, rise, uprise, upsweep and upturn. Near antonyms include even, flatten, level and plane.

How do you use "Descend" in a sentence?

Examples of "Descend" in a sentence: "the pathway descends to the river bank"; "the order of the classroom descended into chaos when the teacher left the room"; "leaves slowly descended from the branches in the gentle autumn wind".

Is "Descend" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Descend" is a verb.

Is "Descend" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Descend" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Descend"?

"Descend" is pronounced /di-ˈsend/ and divided into syllables as de·scend.