Descent — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /di-ˈsent/ de·scent

Meaning & Definition of Descent

Descent (noun)

  1. derivation from an ancestor, birth, lineage
  2. transmission or devolution of an estate by inheritance usually in the descending line
  3. the fact or process of originating from an ancestral stock

Descent (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the act or process of going to a lower level or altitude

    "the airplane began its gradual descent to the landing field"

    similar: dip, dive, down, drop, fall, nosedive, plunge
    related: comedown, decline, downfall, downgrade, plummeting, sinking
    opposite: ascent, climb, rise, rising, soaring, upswing, upturn
    near: advance, headway, progress, progression, betterment, improvement

  2. a gradual sinking and wasting away of mind or body

    "the family patriarch's heartbreaking descent into infirmity and senility"

    similar: debilitation, decay, decaying, declension, decline, degeneration, deterioration, ebbing, enfeeblement, weakening
    related: atrophy, exhaustion, drooping, flagging, limping, regression, relapse, setback
    opposite: comeback, improvement, rally, recovery, recuperation, rehabilitation, revitalization, snapback
    near: invigoration, strengthening, progress, rejuvenation, rejuvenescence

  3. a change to a lower state or level

    "the nation's rapid descent into anarchy after the revolution"

    similar: decadence, declension, declination, decline, degeneracy, degeneration, degradation, dégringolade, deterioration, devolution, downfall, downgrade, ebb, eclipse, fall
    related: dark age, nadir, sunset, decay, rotting, spoiling, breakup, crumbling, decomposition, disintegration, dissolution, abasement, debasement, depreciation, lessening, decimation, demolishment, demolition, desolation, destruction, havoc, ruin, ruination, abatement, decrease, decrement, de-escalation, deflation, diminishment, diminution, dip, downslide, downtrend, downturn, drop, drop-off, falloff, loss, lowering, reduction, sag, shrinkage, slip, slump
    opposite: ascent, rise, upswing
    near: advancement, development, evolution, growth, blossoming, flourishing, flowering, renewal, restoration, revitalization, heightening, accretion, accrual, addendum, addition, augmentation, boost, enhancement, gain, increase, increment, raise, supplement

  4. a loss of status

    "for throwing the game, the ballplayer underwent a huge descent in the eyes of the fans"

    similar: comedown, decline, dégringolade, demise, down, downfall, fall, flameout, Götterdämmerung
    related: breakdown, burnout, collapse, crash, meltdown, ruin, undoing, defeat, disappointment, reversal, setback, bottom, nadir, abasement, disgrace, humiliation
    opposite: aggrandizement, ascent, exaltation, rise, up
    near: advance, headway, progress, flower, heyday, prime

  5. a sudden attack on and entrance into hostile territory

    "the lightning descent of the invading army on that unsuspecting border town"

    similar: foray, incursion, inroad, invasion, irruption, raid
    related: pillage, plunder, aggression, assault, coup de main, offense, offensive, onset, onslaught, rush, siege, storm, strike, charge, sally, sortie, ambuscade, ambush, surprise, trap, air raid, blitz, blitzkrieg, bombardment, counteraggression, counterassault, counterattack, counteroffensive, counterstrike

  6. the act or action of setting upon with force or violence

    "the descent of the voracious locusts on the wheat fields"

    similar: aggression, assault, attack, attempt, blitz, blitzkrieg, charge, coup de main, offense, offensive, onset, onslaught, raid, rush, strike
    related: ambuscade, ambush, counteraggression, counterassault, counterattack, counteroffensive, counterstrike, sally, sortie, envelopment, flanking, breakthrough, foray, incursion, invasion, pillage, ravage, sack, air raid, bombardment, bombing, siege, storm, barrage, cannonade, fusillade, hail, salvo, volley, whammy
    near: defense, defensive, guard, shield, opposition, resistance, protection, security, shelter

  7. the line of ancestors from whom a person is descended

    "a person of Finnish descent"

    similar: ancestry, birth, blood, bloodline, breeding, extraction, family tree, genealogy, line, lineage, origin, parentage, pedigree, stock, strain
    related: heredity, succession, family, house, kin, kindred, relations, relatives, race (archaic)
    opposite: issue, posterity, progeny, seed
    near: offspring, child, heir, inheritor, son, successor

  8. a downward slope

    "on bicycle tours the ascents always seem to outnumber the descents"

    similar: declension, decline, declivity, dip, downgrade, downhill, fall, hang, hanging
    related: basin, depression, hollow
    opposite: acclivity, ascent, rise, upgrade, uphill, uprise
    near: glacis, grade, gradient, hill, inclination, incline, lean, pitch, rake, tilt

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Descent

The most common words with a similar meaning to Descent:

dip, dive, down, drop, fall, nosedive, plunge, debilitation, decay, decaying, declension, decline, degeneration, deterioration, ebbing, enfeeblement, weakening, decadence, declination, degeneracy, degradation, dégringolade, devolution, downfall, downgrade, ebb, eclipse, comedown, demise, flameout, Götterdämmerung, foray, incursion, inroad, invasion, irruption, raid, aggression, assault, attack

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Descent

Words with the opposite meaning of Descent:

ascent, climb, rise, rising, soaring, upswing, upturn, comeback, improvement, rally, recovery, recuperation, rehabilitation, revitalization, snapback, aggrandizement, exaltation, up, issue, posterity, progeny, seed, acclivity, upgrade, uphill, uprise

Related Words for Descent

plummeting, sinking, atrophy, exhaustion, drooping, flagging, limping, regression, relapse, setback, dark age, nadir, sunset, rotting, spoiling, breakup, crumbling, decomposition, disintegration, dissolution, abasement, debasement, depreciation, lessening, decimation, demolishment, demolition, desolation, destruction, havoc

Near Antonyms of Descent

advance, headway, progress, progression, betterment, invigoration, strengthening, rejuvenation, rejuvenescence, advancement, development, evolution, growth, blossoming, flourishing, flowering, renewal, restoration, heightening, accretion, accrual, addendum, addition, augmentation, boost, enhancement, gain, increase, increment, raise

Origin & Etymology of Descent

Middle English, from Anglo-French descente, from Anglo-French descendre see descend

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Descent

Words & Phrases Containing Descent

of royal descent

Frequently Asked Questions about Descent

What does "Descent" mean?

"Descent" means derivation from an ancestor, birth, lineage. As a noun, it is defined as: derivation from an ancestor, birth, lineage. It has 8 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Descent"?

Other words for "Descent" include dip, dive, down, drop, fall, nosedive, plunge and debilitation. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Descent" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Descent"?

There are 175 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Descent". Common alternatives include dip, dive, down, drop, fall, nosedive, plunge, debilitation, decay and decaying.

What is the opposite of "Descent"?

Antonyms of "Descent" include ascent, climb, rise, rising, soaring, upswing, upturn and comeback. Near antonyms include advance, headway, progress and progression.

How do you use "Descent" in a sentence?

Examples of "Descent" in a sentence: "the airplane began its gradual descent to the landing field"; "the family patriarch's heartbreaking descent into infirmity and senility"; "the nation's rapid descent into anarchy after the revolution".

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

"Descent" is a noun.

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

As a C1-level word, "Descent" 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 "Descent"?

"Descent" is pronounced /di-ˈsent/ and divided into syllables as de·scent.