Descend
/dɪˈsɛnd/
Definitions
3 meaningsTo move downwards.
/dɪˈsɛnd/
To move or go down from a higher place or level to a lower one.
The hot air balloon began to descend slowly.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're on a slide. When you go down, you descend! It's like going from a high place to a low place.
👶 For kids: To go down from a higher place, like going down a slide or stairs.
More Examples
The stairs descend into the basement.
As the sun set, darkness began to descend.
How It's Used
"The plane began to descend for landing."
"After reaching the summit, they carefully descended the mountain."
"The price of the stock began to descend sharply."
To be derived from or originate from something or someone in the past.
/dɪˈsɛnd/
To come down or fall, as from an ancestor or origin.
Their property descends from a royal grant.
💡 Simply: Think of a family history! Your family's story might descend from a famous ancestor.
👶 For kids: To come from a family or a long time ago.
More Examples
The custom of tea drinking descends from the British.
The leadership role descends to the eldest child.
How It's Used
"The family's wealth descends from a long line of successful merchants."
"The tradition descends through the generations."
To move downwards in a sudden or overwhelming way (often implies a negative action).
/dɪˈsɛnd/
To make a sudden attack or incursion.
The vultures descended on the carcass.
💡 Simply: Imagine a group of people coming together, like a team that descends on a rival. It implies a negative action.
👶 For kids: To come down on someone suddenly, maybe to attack.
More Examples
The police descended on the suspect's house.
The enemy descended on the city.
How It's Used
"The troops descended upon the enemy camp at dawn."
"The critics descended on the new movie after its release."
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
descend into
To progressively fall into a worse state.
"The city began to descend into chaos after the power outage."
From Middle English *descenden*, from Old French *descendre*, from Latin *dēscendere* ('to climb down, descend'), from *dē* ('down, from') + *scandere* ('to climb').
The word 'descend' has been used in English since the 14th century, initially to describe movement from a higher place. Over time, it took on more figurative meanings, such as relating to ancestry or a decline in condition.
Memory tip
Think of a roller coaster: it goes up, but then it DESCENDS!