⬇️ To go down 🌫️ To spread over 👑 To come from ancestors 👇 To lower standards

to descend

150 2.7

Move from a higher to a lower place

verb
/dɪˈsɛnd/

: bajar

The hiker had to descend steeply down the mountain trail to reach the valley.
descend the stairs
descend the ramp
descending order

He starts descending into the tomb world.

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Examples

Descend to 3,000 feet and identify, or we will force you down.

Coneheads (1993)
We're in an uncontrolled dive descending out of 21,000 feet.

Flight (2012)
When you get your speed under control, descend down to 2,000 feet.

On a Wing and a Prayer (2023)
Ladies and gentlemen, we have begun to descend now.

Flightplan (2005)
- Descend to 300 feet.

Godzilla (1998)
And you can see these if you descend into Egyptian tombs.
We're descending through 1,200 feet.

Air Force One (1997)
Adventurers, take General Baldwin with you and descend into Eulin.
We're gonna do a walk-through, and we're now descending the stairs into the furnace room.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)
DEAKINS: Descend to 400 feet AGL, altimeter setting 3001.

Broken Arrow (1996)

Synonyms

to fall

vsto descend

∞ 1.0

Move or drop down from a higher to a lower place

is the gentler general movement that lacks sudden gravity emphasis

to sink

vsto descend

358 1.0

To move down physically or emotionally, often when tired

is the neutral physical movement rather than emotional change

to go down

vsto descend

321 1.9

To become less in amount, size, or value

is primarily about moving from a higher to a lower position physically

to come down

vsto descend

221 2.8

To become lower, for example temperature or prices

is specifically about moving from a higher to a lower position

to plunge

vsto descend

83 3.8

To fall or drop suddenly from a higher to a lower place

is the ordinary movement without the sudden steep drop or force

to dip

vsto descend

41 2.7

To move down at an angle

is the broader action without implying short or brief lowering

to drop down

vsto descend

34 1.8

To fall from a higher place to a lower place

is the general action without stressing suddenness or slowness

to climb down

vsto descend

29 1.4

Move down from a high place using hands and feet

is the general movement without requiring use of hands or feet

to rappel

vsto descend

Specialized

7 8.9

To slide down a rope while controlling your speed

is the normal movement down and not a specialized rope technique

to hopple down

vsto descend

9.9

Move down slowly and awkwardly because you are hurt

is the simple neutral movement without the awkwardness or extra difficulty

Antonyms

to ascend

54 4.0

To move upward to a higher place, for example up a hill or into the sky

How Fast

to plunge

83 3.8

to descend

150 2.7

to climb down

29 1.4

creep

12 5.3

Surface Forms

descend infinitive

descended past

descended past participle

descending present participle

descends third person singular

Morphology

descend = de + scend

Although analyzable as de- + scend, 'scend' is not a standalone English word and the prefixal analysis is not productive knowledge for most learners, so the meaning cannot be reliably derived from its parts.

Etymology

Descend comes from Latin parts de- 'down' and scendere 'to climb', so it originally meant 'to climb down'. Think of it as the opposite of ascend or simply 'climb down', which is why descend means to move from a higher to a lower place.