ascend
To move, climb, or go upward, whether physically or in metaphorical terms such as rank, status, or importance. It describes the action of rising from a lower point to a higher one.
Examples
3 of 5We watched the colorful hot air balloons slowly ascend into the clear morning sky.
We watched the colorful hot air balloons slowly rise up into the clear morning sky.
The aircraft was cleared by air traffic control to ascend to a cruising altitude of 35,000 feet.
The plane was given permission to climb to its final flight height of 35,000 feet.
I had to ascend three flights of stairs just to get to the rooftop party.
I had to walk up three floors of stairs to reach the party on the roof.
Word Family
Memory Tip
Focus on the 'A' at the start of the word; it looks like the peak of a mountain you are climbing. Also, 'scend' is the same root found in 'scale' (to climb).
Quick Quiz
The young leader is expected to ______ to the presidency after the next election.
Correct!
The correct answer is: ascend
Examples
We watched the colorful hot air balloons slowly ascend into the clear morning sky.
everydayWe watched the colorful hot air balloons slowly rise up into the clear morning sky.
The aircraft was cleared by air traffic control to ascend to a cruising altitude of 35,000 feet.
formalThe plane was given permission to climb to its final flight height of 35,000 feet.
I had to ascend three flights of stairs just to get to the rooftop party.
informalI had to walk up three floors of stairs to reach the party on the roof.
The study analyzes how warm air currents ascend and affect local weather patterns.
academicThe research looks at the way warm air moves upward and influences the local weather.
She is expected to ascend to the position of Chief Executive Officer in the coming quarter.
businessShe is likely to be promoted to the top leadership role during the next three months.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
ascend the corporate ladder
to be promoted through the levels of a company
ascend to new heights
to reach higher levels of achievement or quality
ascend the ranks
to work one's way up through an organization
Often Confused With
Ascend is the verb (the action), while ascent is the noun (the process or the upward path).
Accent refers to a way of speaking; it sounds similar but is spelled differently and has a different meaning.
Usage Notes
Ascend is more formal than 'go up' or 'climb'. It is frequently used in technical, literary, or official contexts to describe both physical and social rising.
Common Mistakes
Learners often say 'ascend up', which is redundant because 'ascend' already means to go up. Another common error is using 'ascend' as a noun when they should use 'ascent'.
Memory Tip
Focus on the 'A' at the start of the word; it looks like the peak of a mountain you are climbing. Also, 'scend' is the same root found in 'scale' (to climb).
Word Origin
Derived from the Latin 'ascendere', where 'ad-' means 'to' and 'scandere' means 'to climb'.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
The term is famously used in historical and royal contexts, such as 'ascending the throne' to describe the start of a monarch's reign.
Quick Quiz
The young leader is expected to ______ to the presidency after the next election.
Correct!
The correct answer is: ascend
Related Vocabulary
Related Words
unknown
A1A person or thing that is not known, recognized, or familiar. It often refers to a mysterious situation or a person who has not yet achieved fame or success.
of
A1A preposition used to show a relationship between a part and a whole, or to indicate belonging and origin. It connects a noun or pronoun to another part of the sentence to specify which one or what kind.
in
A1A preposition used to indicate position within a container, a space, an area, or a period of time. It describes being surrounded by something or being inside the boundaries of a location.
it
A1A third-person singular pronoun used to refer to an object, animal, or situation that has already been mentioned or is clear from context. It is also frequently used as a dummy subject to talk about time, weather, or distance.
on
A1A preposition used to indicate that something is in a position above and supported by a surface. It is also used to indicate a specific day or date, or to show that a device is functioning.
as
A1A conjunction used to compare two things that are equal in some way. It is most commonly used in the pattern 'as + adjective/adverb + as' to show similarity.
this
A1Used to identify a specific person, thing, or idea that is physically close to the speaker or has just been mentioned. It can also refer to the present time or a situation that is currently happening.
by
A1A preposition used to show the method or means of doing something, or to identify the person or thing that performs an action. It frequently appears in passive sentences to indicate the agent or before modes of transport.
we
A1The word 'we' is a first-person plural pronoun used to refer to the speaker and one or more other people collectively. It is used as the subject of a sentence or clause.
or
A1A coordinating conjunction used to connect two or more possibilities or alternatives. it indicates that only one of the options is likely, required, or true.
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