adj
Uncommon
descending
dih-SEHN-dihng
Descending (adj) means moving or leading downward. Example: “They followed the descending path back to the village.”
adj
1
Moving or leading downward.
"They followed the descending path back to the village."
"The descending lift stopped at every floor on the way to the basement."
"We watched the lights of the descending plane grow brighter as it neared the airport."
2
Arranged from highest to lowest.
"The results are listed in descending order of score."
"Sort the names in descending order of age, starting with the oldest."
"The teacher read out the marks in descending order, beginning with the top score."
How to use descending
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishGoing downward, or ordered from biggest/highest to smallest/lowest.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
descending order
descending scale
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Word forms
- Plural
- descendings
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They followed the _____ path back to the village.
Etymology
Formed from descend and -ing.
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for descending
ending
sending
bending
lending
pending
mending
spending
unending
blending
trending
defending
ascending
See all rhymes for descending →
Frequently asked questions
What does “descending” mean?
The word “descending” means moving or leading downward. In plain terms, going downward, or ordered from biggest/highest to smallest/lowest.
How do you pronounce “descending”?
“Descending” is pronounced dih-SEHN-dihng (/dɪˈsɛn.dɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “descending” in a sentence?
Here is “descending” used in a sentence: “They followed the descending path back to the village.”
What is the opposite of “descending”?
The opposite of “descending” — its antonyms — is ascending.
What part of speech is “descending”?
“Descending” is an adjective.
Is “descending” a common word?
“Descending” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “descending” have?
“Descending” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: moving or leading downward.
