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ascent

noun
as·​cent | \ É™-ˈsent How to pronounce ascent (audio) , a-\

Definition of ascent

1a : the act of rising or mounting upward : climb completed their ascent of the mountain
b : an upward slope or rising grade : acclivity followed the steep ascent to the top of the hill
c : the degree of elevation : inclination, gradient
2 : an advance in social status or reputation : progress their ascent from the lower class to the middle class
3 : a going back in time or upward in order of genealogical succession
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Synonyms & Antonyms for ascent

Synonyms

ascension, climb, rise, rising, soar

Antonyms

descent, dip, dive, drop, fall, nosedive, plunge

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Examples of ascent in a Sentence

They followed a steep ascent to the top of the hill. our plane broke through some heavy low clouds during its ascent and leveled off once we were above them

Recent Examples on the Web

 The astronauts would ride down to the surface in the pressurized cabin of an upper ascent stage. — William Harwood, CBS News, "NASA picks Alabama space center to manage lunar lander program," 16 Aug. 2019 Cummings is averaging over five ascents and descents a day and has completed the trail about 870 times since January. — USA TODAY, "Whiskey webs, alien abductions, goldfish invasion: News from around our 50 states," 25 June 2019 Some days will have significant ascents and descents. — National Geographic, "Hiking the Alpe-Adria Trail through Austria, Slovenia, and Italy," 12 June 2019 In 1993, Carpenter managed an unfathomable feat by setting records for both the full marathon and the ascent in the same race. — Martin Fritz Huber, Outside Online, "Will Kilian Jornet Break Running’s Toughest Record?," 23 Aug. 2019 People should be on the look-out for someone trying to scrap or sell equipment such as carabiners, pulleys and ascent control devices, Mokosso said. — Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, "As St. Paul firefighters train in bluff rescue, someone steals their equipment," 19 Aug. 2019 Hitler’s ascent involves conservative politicians sharing power with an extremist party and being outmanoeuvred. — Klaus Meyer, Quartz, "How to prevent a fascist takeover: Lessons from the Nazi party’s rise to power," 17 Aug. 2019 Getting the astronauts off the Moon and back to their ride home to the Earth is the third key part of the landing mission, and that ascent vehicle will be managed by Houston’s Johnson Space Center. — Lee Roop | Lroop@al.com, al, "NASA boss arrives in Alabama today bringing key Moon return mission," 16 Aug. 2019 Due to predicted strong winds Friday and Saturday, organizers of the event decided to move the ascent forward a day. — Georgia Slater, PEOPLE.com, "Darth Vader Hot Air Balloon Floats Over British City — and Mark Hamill Loves It," 9 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ascent.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of ascent

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

History and Etymology for ascent

irregular from ascend

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More Definitions for ascent

ascent

noun
How to pronounce ascent (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of ascent

: the act or process of rising, moving, or climbing up
: the act or process of moving to a higher or more powerful position
: a way of going up something : an upward slope, path, etc.

See the full definition for ascent in the English Language Learners Dictionary

ascent

noun
as·​cent | \ É™-ˈsent How to pronounce ascent (audio) \

Kids Definition of ascent

1 : the act of rising or climbing upward The hikers began their ascent of the mountain.
2 : the act of rising to a higher or more powerful position
3 : an upward slope or path

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More from Merriam-Webster on ascent

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with ascent

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for ascent

Spanish Central: Translation of ascent

Nglish: Translation of ascent for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of ascent for Arabic Speakers

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