Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Moving, going, or growing upward: Describes something that is rising or moving to a higher position, level, or degree.
   • Increasing in value, size, or importance: Can describe a sequence, order, or trend that progresses from lower to higher.

2. Noun:

   • The act of moving upward: The action of changing location in an upward direction.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:

  • The ascending plane quickly gained altitude. (The plane moving upward quickly gained altitude.)
  • Arrange the numbers in ascending order from smallest to largest. (Arrange the numbers in an order that increases from smallest to largest.)
  • The hikers followed the ascending trail to the summit. (The hikers followed the trail that went upward to the summit.)

• Noun:

  • The ascending of the hot air balloon was smooth and steady. (The upward movement of the hot air balloon was smooth and steady.)

Advanced Usage

• "Ascending order": A sequence arranged from the smallest or least to the largest or greatest.

  • Please sort the files by date in ascending order. (Please sort the files by date from the oldest to the most recent.)

• "Ascending node" (Astronomy): The point where an orbit crosses a reference plane (like the ecliptic) from south to north.

  • The satellite passed through its ascending node. (The satellite passed through the point where its orbit crossed the plane moving northward.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ascend (verb): To move, climb, or go upward.

  • The path ascends to a beautiful viewpoint. (The path climbs upward to a beautiful viewpoint.)

• Ascension (noun): The act of rising or ascending; often used in formal or religious contexts.

  • The story describes his ascension to power. (The story describes his rise to power.)

• Ascendant (adjective/noun): Rising in power or influence; in astrology, the sign of the zodiac rising on the eastern horizon at a given time.

  • The party was in the ascendant during that decade. (The party was gaining power during that decade.)

Synonyms

• Rising: Going up.
• Climbing: Moving upward, especially using effort.
• Increasing: Becoming greater in number, level, or size.
• Upward: Moving or directed toward a higher place or level.

Antonyms

• Descending: Moving or going downward.
• Falling: Moving downward, typically rapidly and freely.
• Decreasing: Becoming smaller or fewer in size, amount, or intensity.

Related Phrases

• On the ascendancy: Increasing in power, influence, or popularity.

  • The new technology is clearly on the ascendancy. (The new technology is clearly gaining dominance.)

• Ascend the throne: To become king or queen.

  • The prince will ascend the throne after his father's abdication. (The prince will become king after his father's abdication.)

Adjective

1. moving or going or growing upward
   • the ascending plane
   • the ascending staircase
   • the ascending stems of chickweed

Noun

1. the act of changing location in an upward direction