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Descend Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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descend

[dɪˈsɛnd ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Verb

movement

Move or fall downward.

Synonyms

drop, fall, go down.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

arrow down
Word Description / Examples
descend

Use when talking about moving from a higher place to a lower one in a controlled manner, often used in formal contexts.

  • The hikers began to descend the mountain carefully.
  • The airplane started to descend as it approached the airport.
go down

Use when talking about movement to a lower place or position, typically in a less formal way. It can also refer to decreases in statistical data, prices, or levels.

  • The elevator will go down to the basement level.
  • Gas prices have started to go down recently.
fall

Use when talking about moving downwards, often unintentionally. It often conveys a negative or uncontrolled action.

  • He slipped on the ice and fell.
  • The autumn leaves begin to fall from the trees.
drop

Use when something falls suddenly and quickly, often by accident. It can also imply a rapid decrease in level or value.

  • She accidentally dropped her phone, and it shattered.
  • There was a sudden drop in temperature last night.

Examples of usage

  • He began to descend the stairs.
  • The sun descended below the horizon.
  • The helicopter began to descend towards the landing pad.
Context #2 | Verb

decrease

Make a sudden, quick, or abrupt downward movement or fall.

Synonyms

decline, dip, plunge.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
descend

Used to describe a controlled, usually gradual, movement downward, often in a literal or physical sense.

  • The airplane began to descend as it approached the runway.
  • Darkness descended upon the village as the sun set.
plunge

Indicates a sudden, steep, and often uncontrolled decrease or fall, usually with a sense of danger or urgency.

  • The car went out of control and plunged off the cliff.
  • Stocks plunged dramatically following the economic report.
dip

Refers to a slight or temporary drop, often in numerical terms or physical levels. The change is usually not severe.

  • There was a dip in temperatures last night.
  • The stock market experienced a quick dip after the announcement.
decline

Typically used for a gradual decrease or reduction in value, quality, or quantity, often in a negative or unfavorable sense.

  • The company's profits have declined over the past year.
  • His health has been in gradual decline since the illness.

Examples of usage

  • The plane descended rapidly towards the runway.
  • The temperature began to descend as the sun set.
Context #3 | Verb

origin

Originate in a particular place or line; be descended.

Synonyms

come from, derive, trace back to.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
descend

Use when referring to movement from a higher place to a lower place or when talking about family lineage.

  • The hikers began to descend the mountain as the sun set.
  • She can trace her ancestors who descend from royalty.
derive

Appropriate when talking about origins or sources, especially in more formal or academic contexts, such as the source of a word, idea, or substance.

  • Many English words derive from Latin.
  • The drug is derived from a rare plant.
come from

Commonly used to describe a place of origin, be it geographical, cultural or familial.

  • She comes from Italy.
  • The recipe comes from my grandmother.
trace back to

Useful when you want to highlight the historical or investigative process of discovering origins.

  • The tradition can be traced back to ancient Greece.
  • Doctors traced the outbreak back to a contaminated water supply.

Examples of usage

  • She descends from a long line of musicians.
  • This tradition descends from ancient times.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Science

  • In geology, areas can be said to descend due to erosion, where higher land loses material over time.
  • When a plane descends, it decreases altitude, illustrating this word in everyday contexts.

Literature

  • In many poems and stories, characters descends into darkness, symbolizing a fall from grace or new understandings.
  • The theme of descending often appears in fantasy tales, where heroes journey down into mysterious underground worlds.

Cultural Context

  • In many cultures, descending can represent a journey to understanding, such as 'descending into madness' in literature.
  • In music, certain scales descend, creating a feeling of sadness or reflection.

Psychology

  • The concept of descending can metaphorically describe a decline in mental or emotional state, such as 'descending into despair'.
  • In cognitive psychology, when people encounter setbacks, they may describe their feelings as 'descending' in motivation.

Origin of 'descend'

Main points about word origin

  • The word comes from the Latin 'descendere', where 'de-' means 'down' and 'scendere' means 'to climb'.
  • Initially used to mean 'to go down' in a literal sense, but has also taken on figurative meanings, like to fall in status.

The word 'descend' originated from the Latin word 'descendere', which is a combination of 'de-' (down) and 'scandere' (to climb). It has been used in the English language since the 14th century. The concept of descending has been a fundamental part of human experience, whether it refers to physical movement, decrease, or origin.

See also: condescending, descendant, descendants, descending.

Word Frequency Rank

Position #8,291 indicates this is an advanced-level word. While not essential for basic communication, it will enhance your ability to understand and create more nuanced content.