descent

noun
UK: /dɪˈsent/
US: /dɪˈsent/

  1. The act of moving downwards.

    1. The plane began its descent to the airport quickly and efficiently.
    2. The descent into the valley was steep, so we had to be careful with our car.

  2. A way down, like a path or a slope.

    1. The descent was easier than the climb up the mountain before.
    2. The long descent from the mountain took several hours because of the ice.

  3. Someone's family origins or background.

    1. She is of Italian descent and loves to cook pasta.
    2. Many citizens of this country are of European descent since the colonizations.

  4. A change to a worse condition or lower level.

    1. The city has experienced a descent into chaos since the law was enacted.
    2. There was a rapid descent into madness after his wife left him alone and in despair.

Synonyms

origin fall ancestry declension drop
descent intransitive-verb

  1. To move downwards.

    1. The sun began to descent below the horizon slowly.
    2. The plane will descent to land soon and we must fasten our seatbelts.

  2. To come or be passed down from an ancestor.

    1. The throne descended from father to son for centuries there.
    2. His artistic talent descended from his mother since he was little boy.

  3. To sink to a lower level or condition.

    1. After losing his job, he descended into depression because of his despair.
    2. The conversation descended into a shouting match during the negotiation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "descent" in English means: The act of moving downwards., A way down, like a path or a slope., Someone's family origins or background., A change to a worse condition or lower level..

The phonetic transcription of "descent" is /dɪˈsent/ in British English and /dɪˈsent/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "descent": origin, fall, ancestry, declension, drop.

Example usage of "descent": "The plane began its descent to the airport quickly and efficiently.". More examples on the page.