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moving upward; rising.
Botany. growing or directed upward, especially obliquely or in a curve from the base.
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

As for ascending starlet Ali (Aguilera), she is all batting eyelashes and sugary sweet can-do-ness.
Burlesque v. Showgirls: The Face-Off Nicole LaPorte November 22, 2010

They are, in ascending order of controversy, Penny Pritzker for Commerce, Gina McCarthy for the EPA, and Tom Perez for Labor.
Obama: Finally Ready to Fight? Michael Tomasky May 29, 2013

They were holding too many meetings, he realized, descending into politics instead of ascending to reckon with Flagg.
McConaughey’s ‘Stand’—And Ours James Poulos December 4, 2014

In true, adorably awkward JLaw fashion, she tripped on her own dress while ascending the steps to accept the award.
The Juvenile Oscars Marlow Stern February 24, 2013

The officer says the guards kept constant watch for clues among the prisoners for coalescing groups and ascending leaders.
ISIS Leader: ‘See You in New York’ Michael Daly June 13, 2014

Historical Examples

On ascending an eminence captain Clarke saw the forks of the river and sent the hunters up.
History of the Expedition under the Command of Captains Lewis and Clark, Vol. I. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark

Take care how you go’—for they were now ascending the stairs.
Life And Adventures Of Martin Chuzzlewit Charles Dickens

Infinite toil would not enable you to sweep away a mist; but, by ascending a little, you may often overlook it altogether.
Dictionary of Quotations from Ancient and Modern, English and Foreign Sources James Wood

“She was sort of snippy about it,” Alice returned, ascending the stairs.
Alice Adams Booth Tarkington

It may be realised by ascending to the highest point of St Paul’s and contemplating a dive into the flooded churchyard.
The Secret of the League Ernest Bramah

adjective
moving upwards; rising
(botany) sloping or curving upwards: the ascending stem of a vine
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.