Word
descend
Meanings
to move downward from a higher place to a lower one
(of an aircraft) to go down toward the ground, especially to land
to come from a particular family or group of ancestors
Definition
To descend means to move downward from a higher place to a lower one.
To descend is to go down from a higher level to a lower level, whether by walking, climbing, or flying. It can describe a gradual movement, like a plane coming down to land, or a careful movement, like going down stairs. It is the opposite of “ascend.”
Examples
- We began to descend the narrow staircase in silence as the lights flickered overhead.
- The helicopter will descend once the wind eases, so the rescue team can approach safely.
- She watched the fog descend over the lake until the far shore disappeared completely.
- They descend from a long line of artisans, and they still keep many of the same techniques alive.
Common mistake
Learners often confuse "descend" with "decrease" and say things like "the temperature descended" instead of "the temperature decreased" (though "descend" is natural for things like fog or night).
More at C1 level
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More verbs
- analyze To examine something carefully in order to understand it or explain it.
- scrutinize To scrutinize something is to examine it very carefully and in detail.
- affect To affect something is to influence it or cause it to change.
- allude To allude means to mention or suggest something indirectly without saying it clearly.
- elude To elude someone or something is to avoid being caught, understood, or remembered.