descent
dih-SEHNT
Descent (noun) means the act of coming down from a higher place, or a downward slope or path. Example: “The climbers began their descent before the afternoon clouds rolled in.”
noun
1
The act of coming down from a higher place, or a downward slope or path.
"The climbers began their descent before the afternoon clouds rolled in."
"The plane began its descent into Manchester."
"The path down the cliff was a steep, rocky descent."
2
A person's family origins or ancestry.
"Many people in the town are of Irish descent."
"She is of Italian descent on her mother's side."
"He can trace his descent back to a small village in Poland."
3
A drop into a worse state or condition.
"The company's descent into debt began with a few bad decisions."
"Critics described the band's descent into mediocrity with real sadness."
"The film traces his descent into addiction."
How to use descent
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishGoing downward — whether that's a plane landing, a path down a hill, where your family comes from, or a slide into a worse situation.
Common pairings
a steep descent
of French descent
a descent into chaos
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Word forms
- Plural
- descents
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The climbers began their _____ before the afternoon clouds rolled in.
Etymology
From Old French descente, tied to descendre, "to descend" — built from the same root as "ascent" and "ascend", just heading the other direction.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for descent
See all rhymes for descent →Frequently asked questions
What does “descent” mean?
The word “descent” means the act of coming down from a higher place, or a downward slope or path. In plain terms, going downward — whether that's a plane landing, a path down a hill, where your family comes from, or a slide into a worse situation.
How do you pronounce “descent”?
“Descent” is pronounced dih-SEHNT (/dəˈsɛnt/ in IPA).
How do you use “descent” in a sentence?
Here is “descent” used in a sentence: “The plane began its descent into Manchester.”
What is the opposite of “descent”?
The opposite of “descent” — its antonyms — is ascent.
What part of speech is “descent”?
“Descent” is a noun.
Where does the word “descent” come from?
The word “descent” comes from Old French. From Old French descente, tied to descendre, "to descend" — built from the same root as "ascent" and "ascend", just heading the other direction.
Is “descent” a common word?
“Descent” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “descent” have?
“Descent” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the act of coming down from a higher place, or a downward slope or path.
What is the difference between 'descent' and 'decent'?
These are often confused because they look similar. "Descent" is a noun meaning a downward movement, a slope, or a person's ancestry. "Decent" is an adjective meaning respectable, adequate, or kind. They are unrelated in meaning.
What is the difference between 'descent' and 'dissent'?
"Descent" means coming down from a higher place, a downward slope, or a line of ancestry. "Dissent" means disagreement or the holding of an opposing opinion. Despite sounding similar, they have different meanings and spellings.
What is the difference between descent and ascent?
Descent is the act of coming down from a higher place or a downward slope, while ascent is the act of going up or an upward climb. They are opposites, most often used when talking about climbing, aircraft, or paths.
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