ascend
gb/əsˈɛnd/ us/əsˈɛnd/
B2
English
~ 6700
felmegy, emelkedik, felkapaszkodik, feljebb jut, hatalomra jut, erősödik, nő, felmegy a mennybe, mennybe jut
VERB
B2
FORMAL
1
Usage pattern:
to ascend [something] / to ascend to [a height]
The hikers began to ascend the steep mountain trail at dawn.
A túrázók hajnalban kezdtek felkapaszkodni a meredek hegyi ösvényen.
A small plane ascended rapidly above the clouds.
Egy kisrepülő gyorsan a felhők fölé emelkedett.
Smoke ascended from the chimney into the cold night air.
The road ascends sharply as it leaves the valley.
They watched the hot-air balloon ascend into the morning sky.
Learner examples
We slowly ascended the long stairs.
Lassan felmentünk a hosszú lépcsőn.
The elevator ascended to the tenth floor.
A lift felment a tizedik emeletre.
Dark clouds ascended over the city.
The path ascends from the river to the town.
The bird spread its wings and ascended.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *ascend up*, which is redundant. Use either *ascend the stairs* or *go up the stairs*, but not *ascend up the stairs*. Also, *ascend* is more formal; in everyday conversation *go up* or *climb* is usually better.
Meaning
move or go upward
Collocations
ascend a staircase
|ascend a hill
|ascend into the sky
|ascend slowly
|aircraft ascends
|balloon ascends
Synonyms
climb (More common in everyday speech, especially for people going up something using effort.)
|
rise (Very general verb for moving upward; less formal and more frequent than "ascend.")
Antonyms
descend (Describes moving downward from a higher place to a lower one.)
Themes
movement
|travel
|nature
|space
Definition
To go up from a low place to a higher place.
To move or travel upward from a lower place to a higher one, often in a steady or controlled way.
VERB
C1
FORMAL
2
feljebb jut
B1
Usage pattern:
to ascend to [a position/role]
She quickly ascended to the role of chief executive officer.
Gyorsan vezérigazgatói pozícióba került.
The party leader ascended to power after winning a landslide election.
A párt vezetője elsöprő választási győzelem után hatalomra jutott.
Over the years, he ascended the academic ranks to become a full professor.
The young prince eventually ascended to the throne after his father's death.
Through talent and patience, she ascended in the company to a senior management position.
Learner examples
He ascended to a high position in the company.
Magas pozícióba jutott a vállalatnál.
The general ascended to power after the war.
A tábornok a háború után hatalomra jutott.
She ascended the political ranks very quickly.
After many years, he ascended to the top job.
The prince ascended to the throne when the king died.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *ascend* in casual sentences like *He ascended to manager yesterday* where *was promoted* or *became* is more natural. *Ascend* is best for formal or written contexts, often in politics, royalty, or high-level positions.
Meaning
rise to higher rank or status
Collocations
ascend to power
|ascend to the presidency
|ascend to the throne
|ascend the ranks
|ascend in society
|ascend in the company
Synonyms
advance (General word for making progress in a career or status; less formal and more common.)
|
rise (Very common for growing in rank or power (e.g., rise to power); less formal than "ascend.")
|
climb (Often used for career progress (e.g., climb the corporate ladder), slightly more informal.)
Antonyms
fall (In this context, to lose power, rank, or status.)
Themes
work
|politics
|society
|business
Definition
To get a higher job, role, or level of power or importance.
To move into a higher rank, office, or level of power, importance, or social status.
VERB
C1
FORMAL
3
Usage pattern:
to ascend to [a level/amount]
Afternoon temperatures will ascend to nearly 40 degrees Celsius.
Délutánra a hőmérséklet közel 40 Celsius-fokra emelkedik.
Household debt has steadily ascended over the past decade.
A háztartások adóssága az elmúlt évtizedben folyamatosan emelkedett.
The singer's voice ascended from a low whisper to a powerful cry.
The melody ascends gently before returning to the main theme.
Interest rates are expected to ascend to their highest level in years.
Learner examples
Prices may ascend to a new high this year.
Az árak idén új csúcsra emelkedhetnek.
The sound slowly ascends and becomes louder.
A hang lassan erősödik, és egyre hangosabbá válik.
The numbers on the chart ascend each month.
His heart rate ascended as he ran faster.
Sales ascended to 10,000 units last week.
Common mistake:
Learners often use *ascend* where *go up*, *rise*, or *increase* would sound more natural in everyday English. *Ascend* is mainly used in more formal writing or when a writer wants a poetic or technical tone.
Meaning
increase to a higher level
Collocations
temperatures ascend
|prices ascend
|numbers ascend to
|pitch ascends
|notes ascend
|rankings ascend
Synonyms
increase (Neutral, very common word for becoming greater in amount or level.)
|
rise (Common, less formal verb for going to a higher level or amount.)
Antonyms
decline (Refers to numbers or levels going down gradually.)
|
fall (General word for going down in amount or level.)
Themes
science
|weather
|music
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To become higher in number, level, or strength.
To rise or go up from a lower level, amount, or intensity to a higher one.
VERB
C1
LITERARY
4
mennybe jut
B1
Usage pattern:
to ascend to/into [heaven]
According to the New Testament, Jesus ascended into heaven forty days after his resurrection.
Az Újszövetség szerint Jézus negyven nappal a feltámadása után felment a mennybe.
Many believers imagine the souls of the faithful ascending to heaven after death.
Sok hívő úgy képzeli, hogy az igazak lelkei haláluk után a mennybe jutnak.
In the painting, a host of angels ascends toward a bright light above the clouds.
The story ends with the hero's spirit ascending to the heavens in a beam of light.
Learner examples
They believe that good souls ascend to heaven.
Úgy hiszik, hogy a jó lelkek a mennybe jutnak.
The text says that Christ ascended into heaven.
A szöveg szerint Krisztus felment a mennybe.
In the story, a bright light appears and he ascends.
Angels are shown ascending to the heavens in the picture.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use this religious sense in everyday contexts, for example *He ascended to the office* when they simply mean *went up to the office*. The religious sense is mainly used in religious or literary writing.
Meaning
go up to heaven
Collocations
ascend into heaven
|ascend to heaven
|souls ascend
|spirit ascends
|Christ ascended
|ascend to the heavens
Synonyms
enter heaven (Plain description without the formal or religious tone of "ascend.")
Antonyms
descend into hell (Religious opposite describing movement to a lower, hellish realm instead of heaven.)
Themes
religion
|literature
Definition
To go from the world up to heaven, usually in religious stories.
To go up from the earthly world to heaven or a higher spiritual realm, especially used of divine or holy figures.
Grammar
Dictionary form
ascend
IPA
GB/əsˈɛnd/
US/əsˈɛnd/
Syllables & stress
as - cend (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (cend)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: ascend
- 3rd Person Singular: ascends
- Present Participle: ascending
- Past: ascended
Word family
Expressions
ascend to heaven
1/əsˈɛnd tə hˈɛvən/
fixed phrase
literary
go up into heaven
To go up into heaven from the world, usually in religious or poetic writing.
Examples
- The legend says that the hero ascended to heaven in a chariot of fire.
- They prayed that his soul would ascend to heaven in peace.
ascend to power
1/əsˈɛnd tə pˈaʊɚ/
fixed phrase
formal
rise to a position of power
To get control of a country, group, or organization, usually at a high level, such as leader or ruler.
Examples
- The reformist party ascended to power after years in opposition.
- Several generals attempted to ascend to power during the crisis.
ascend to the throne
1/əsˈɛnd tə ðə θɹˈoʊn/
fixed phrase
formal
become king or queen
To become the official king, queen, or monarch of a country.
Examples
- She ascended to the throne at the age of twenty-six.
- The prince will ascend to the throne when his father abdicates.
ascend the throne
1/əsˈɛnd ðə θɹˈoʊn/
fixed phrase
formal
take the throne as ruler
To take the throne and begin to rule as king or queen.
Examples
- Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne in 1952.
- The young king ascended the throne after a long period of political unrest.
- He ascended the throne after his father's death.
- When she ascended the throne, many hoped for major reforms.