ascent
uh-SENT
/əˈsɛnt/
A climb or walk to the summit of a mountain or hill; the act of rising or moving upward.
Ascent can refer to the physical path upward or the metaphorical rise in status or power.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'ad-' (to) and 'scandere' (to climb). It literally means to climb toward something.
Word relationships
- climb: Climb is the more common, everyday word; ascent is more formal and often refers to the entire journey upward.
- rise: Rise is more general and can apply to prices, water levels, or the sun.
- descent: The act of moving downward.
Commonly confused with
- assent: Assent means agreement; ascent means upward movement.
Word family
- ascend (verb): To go up or climb.
- ascendant (adjective): Rising in power or influence.
Collocations
- steep ascent
- final ascent
- rapid ascent
- ascent to power
Example sentences
- "The first ascent of the Matterhorn was completed in 1865." Mountaineering.
- "The plane made a steep ascent to avoid the storm clouds." Aviation.
Memory hook
Ascent: Think of the 'A' as an arrow pointing up. A = Above.
When not to use
Don't use it for simply 'going upstairs' unless you want to be humorous or dramatic.
Fun facts
- In mountaineering, a 'first ascent' is the first time a particular mountain or route is successfully climbed.
Explore more words
ascendancy, advancement, advance, escalate, traverse, aspire
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.