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des·cend
 descend
- pronunciation:
- dih
send
- parts of speech:
- intransitive verb, transitive verb
- features:
- Word Explorer
| part of speech: |
intransitive verb |
| inflections: |
descended, descending, descends |
| definition 1: |
to move downward or to a lower position.
The airplane is beginning to descend now.- synonyms:
- drop, fall, lower
- antonyms:
- ascend, climb, lift, mount, rise
- similar words:
- dive, go down, gravitate, land, plunge, set, sink, stoop, submerge, subside
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| definition 2: |
to incline downward; slope.
This path descends to the ocean.- synonyms:
- decline, dip, fall off, slope
- antonyms:
- ascend
- similar words:
- angle, incline, plunge, slant, subside
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| definition 3: |
to be passed along by inheritance, as from one generation to the next.
This will ensure that the property will descend to your heirs.- synonyms:
- inherit, pass
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| definition 4: |
to be related by blood, esp. through several generations.
My family descends from one of the great clans of Scotland.- synonyms:
- derive
- similar words:
- arise, originate, relate, spring
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| definition 5: |
to attack or overwhelm, as with superior numbers.
Armed guerrillas descended upon the army base.Screaming fans suddenly descended upon the movie star.- synonyms:
- pounce, swoop
- similar words:
- attack, charge, invade, raid, rush
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| related words: |
alight, derive, glide, light, move, pass, rain, sag, settle, trace, tumble |
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| part of speech: |
transitive verb |
| definition 1: |
to move to a lower position on or by means of.
He quickly descended the stairs.
- synonyms:
- lower, sink
- antonyms:
- ascend, mount
- similar words:
- dip, dive, land, stoop
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| definition 2: |
to lead downward along.
The ski slope descends the southern face of the mountain.- synonyms:
- decline, slope
- antonyms:
- ascend
- similar words:
- angle, slant
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