descend from

phrasal verb

descended from; descending from; descends from

: to have (something or someone in the past) as an origin or source

Recent evidence supports the theory that birds descended from dinosaurs.

The plants descend from a common ancestor.

They claim to be descended from a noble British family.

Examples of descend from in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Pietersen — whose family descends from the San people, the oldest Indigenous group in the Karoo — relayed how, in their telling, the galaxy was formed when a young girl threw ashes up into the sky. —Biénne Huisman, Travel + Leisure, 15 Dec. 2024

Kahlo’s great-grandnieces Frida and Mara and their mother (also named Mara) are descended from Frida’s sister Cristina and are fully on board with Nuño’s project. —Joan Oleck, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024

That snow grotto is filled with real snowflakes that descend from the ceiling through the cold air. —Susan B. Barnes, Robb Report, 12 Dec. 2024

Gliding on our bikes down the long, sweeping hill near our house, which descends from the school to the water, my son and I both glory in speed, ease, wind, and sun. —Joshua Rothman, The New Yorker, 3 Dec. 2024