ascent

noun

as·​cent ə-ˈsent 

a-

1

a

: the act of rising or mounting upward : climb

completed their ascent of the mountain

b

: an upward slope or rising grade : acclivity

followed the steep ascent to the top of the hill

c

: the degree of elevation : inclination, gradient

2

: an advance in social status or reputation : progress

their ascent from the lower class to the middle class

3

: a going back in time or upward in order of genealogical succession

Synonyms

• ascension
• climb
• rise
• rising
• soar

Examples of ascent in a Sentence

They followed a steep ascent to the top of the hill.

our plane broke through some heavy low clouds during its ascent and leveled off once we were above them

Recent Examples on the Web

Jo Harkin’s second novel, The Pretender, looks at how the young man believed to be the son of the long-deceased Duke of Clarence navigates his sudden rise in the royal ranks during the early ascent of the Tudors. —Shannon Carlin, Time, 1 Apr. 2025

But its last two Starship test missions, Flight 7 and Flight 8, exploded when their Ship upper stages failed during ascent in January and March of this year. —Tariq Malik, Space.com, 31 Mar. 2025

Rhea Ripley Rhea Ripley's ascent in WWE began in 2017 and culminated in her main roster debut in March 2021. —Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025

For a program that was playing in Division III, in an open-air rink until 1998, it’s been a steady ascent. —Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 26 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

irregular from ascend

First Known Use

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for ascent

• accent
• advent
• assent
• augment
• cement
• consent
• dement
• descent
• detent
• dissent
• event
• extent

Kids Definition

ascent

noun

as·​cent ə-ˈsent 

a-

1

: the act of rising or climbing up

began their ascent of the mountain

2

: an upward slope