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ascent

Pronunciation: /əˈsɛnt/

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Definition of ascent

noun

[usually in singular]

1a climb or walk to the summit of a mountain or hill:the first ascent of the Matterhorn
an upward slope or path that one may walk or climb:the ascent grew steeper

2an instance of rising or moving up through the air:the first balloon ascent was in 1783
a rise to a higher social or professional rank:his ascent to power

Origin:

late 16th century: from ascend, on the pattern of the pair of descend, descent

Spelling help

Remember that ascent and the related words ascend and ascendant begin with asc-.

Do not confuse ascent with assent. Ascent means 'the action of rising or climbing up' (the ascent of Everest), whereas assent means 'approval' or 'agreement' (he nodded his assent).

ascent in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of ascent in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

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