Search

to move, climb, or go upward; mount; rise:
The airplane ascended into the clouds.
to slant upward.
to rise to a higher point, rank, or degree; proceed from an inferior to a superior degree or level:
to ascend to the presidency.
to go toward the source or beginning; go back in time.
Music. to rise in pitch; pass from any tone to a higher one.
to go or move upward upon or along; climb; mount:
to ascend a lookout tower; to ascend stairs.
to gain or succeed to; acquire:
to ascend the throne.
Contemporary Examples

Then there are those who have strong vocals, but have yet to ascend to massive career success or freakish mainstream popularity.
Mariah Carey Is the Last of the Traditional Divas Phoebe Robinson May 28, 2014

It takes a decade, in many cases, to ascend from general enlistee to top commando who attracts the attention of Team Six.
Osama bin Laden Death: Navy SEALs’ Hardcore Workout Tony Doukopil May 4, 2011

Unfortunately, as you ascend the ranks, you discover that politics is a minefield.
American Jews and Immigration, Round Two Raphael Magarik June 5, 2012

He has been flying operational missions since then, and in another two years he will ascend to the rank of captain.
Prince William’s Dramatic Rescue Mission Boosts Royals’ Image Tom Sykes November 27, 2011

If you are ready to ascend into tastebud oblivion, hop on the next flight to China and don’t look back.
Fresh Picks Michael White March 17, 2011

Historical Examples

May it ascend on the wings of the night air to the throne of Heaven.
Varney the Vampire Thomas Preskett Prest

Then I heard a voice, saying, ‘Lo, the soul seeketh to ascend!’
Philothea Lydia Maria Child

They were to ascend the Missouri River to its head and 176then find the nearest waterway to the Pacific coast.
Stories of Later American History Wilbur F. Gordy

At length, when we were nearly under the peak, he began to ascend.
Green Mansions W. H. Hudson

If we ascend a high mountain, we get some idea of the altitude of the various forms of cloud.
Nature’s Miracles, Volume 1 Elisha Gray

verb
to go or move up (a ladder, hill, slope, etc); mount; climb
(intransitive) to slope or incline upwards
(intransitive) to rise to a higher point, level, degree, etc
to follow (a river) upstream towards its source
to trace (a genealogy, etc) back in time
to sing or play (a scale, arpeggio, etc) from the lower to higher notes
ascend the throne, to become king or queen
v.

late 14c., from Latin ascendere “to climb up, mount, ascend,” figuratively “to rise, reach,” from ad- “to” (see ad-) + scandere “to climb” (see scan (v.)). Also in 15c. used with a sense “to mount (a female) for copulation.” Related: Ascended; ascending. An Old English word for it was stigan.