descend
gb/dɪsˈɛnd/ us/dɪsˈɛnd/
A2
English
~ 4700
leereszkedik, lemegy, származik, ered, leszármazik, süllyed, fajul, megrohan, ellep, lerohan
VERB
A2
1
leereszkedik
B1
lemegy
A1
Usage pattern:
to descend [something]
The hikers began to descend the steep trail.
A túrázók elkezdtek leereszkedni a meredek ösvényen.
The plane will descend to 3,000 feet before landing.
A repülőgép leszállás előtt 3000 lábra ereszkedik.
Darkness began to descend over the city.
We slowly descended the stone steps to the beach.
Learner examples
We descend the hill together.
Együtt ereszkedünk le a dombról.
The plane descends slowly.
A repülő lassan ereszkedik.
She descends the stairs quickly.
They descend into the valley.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'descend' with 'decrease', but 'descend' refers specifically to physical or metaphorical movement downwards, not numerical reduction.
Meaning
Move downward from higher point
Collocations
descend the stairs
|descend a hill
|descend into the valley
|descend from the mountain
Synonyms
go down (More informal and general than 'descend'.)
Antonyms
ascend (Means to move upward from a lower to a higher place.)
Themes
movement
|travel
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To go down from a higher place to a lower place.
To move from a higher place to a lower place.
VERB
B1
2
Usage pattern:
to descend from [someone/something]
She claims to descend from a long line of artists.
Azt állítja, hogy művész felmenők hosszú sorából származik.
Modern whales descend from land-dwelling mammals.
A modern bálnák szárazföldön élő emlősöktől származnak.
Many Americans descend from European immigrants.
Learner examples
I descend from a small village family.
Egy kis falusi családból származom.
He says he descends from kings.
Azt mondja, hogy királyoktól származik.
We descend from farmers.
Common mistake:
Some learners use 'descend of' instead of the correct 'descend from'.
Meaning
Come from an ancestor or source
Collocations
descend from royalty
|descend from immigrants
|descend from ancient tribes
Synonyms
derive from (More formal and general; can refer to non-human origins.)
Antonyms
originate in (Can be used in contrast when talking about different sources.)
Themes
family
|history
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To come from a family member who lived before you.
To originate or come from an earlier person, group, or form.
VERB
B2
3
Usage pattern:
to descend into [state]
The peaceful protest quickly descended into violence.
A békés tüntetés hamar erőszakba fajult.
After losing his job, he descended into depression.
Miután elvesztette az állását, depresszióba süllyedt.
The meeting descended into an argument.
Learner examples
The game descended into fighting.
A játék verekedéssé fajult.
The city descended into fear.
A város félelembe süllyedt.
The party descended into noise.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with physical movement; here it is metaphorical for worsening conditions.
Meaning
Change into worse condition
Collocations
descend into chaos
|descend into madness
|descend into poverty
Synonyms
deteriorate (Focuses on gradual worsening rather than sudden change.)
Antonyms
improve (Refers to becoming better rather than worse.)
Themes
emotions
|society
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To become worse or fall into a bad situation.
To pass into a worse or lower state, level, or quality.
VERB
B2
4
Usage pattern:
to descend on/upon [someone/something]
The army descended on the city at dawn.
A hadsereg hajnalban megrohanta a várost.
Reporters descended upon the celebrity as she left the court.
Az újságírók megrohanták a hírességet, amikor kilépett a bíróságról.
Seagulls descended on the picnic area.
Learner examples
The soldiers descended on the village.
A katonák megrohanták a falut.
Fans descended on the shop for tickets.
A rajongók megrohanták az üzletet jegyekért.
Birds descended on the food.
Meaning
Attack by moving down suddenly
Collocations
descend on the town
|descend upon the enemy
|descend on the prey
Synonyms
pounce on (More informal; often used for animals or sudden criticism.)
Antonyms
retreat from (Means to move away instead of attacking.)
Themes
conflict
|nature
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To come down quickly onto someone or something to attack or take over.
To move down quickly onto a person or place, often in order to attack or overwhelm.
Grammar
Dictionary form
descend
IPA
GB/dɪsˈɛnd/
US/dɪsˈɛnd/
Syllables & stress
des - cend (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (cend)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: descend
- 3rd Person Singular: descends
- Present Participle: descending
- Past: descended
Word family
Forms
descends
verb
descending
verb
descended
verb
Core family
descent
noun B1
descendant
noun B2
Expressions
descend from someone/something
1/dɪsˈɛnd fɹˈʌm sˈoʊmˈoʊnsəmˈɛθɪŋ/
phrasal verb
Be related by ancestry or origin
To be related to people who lived before you, or developed from something earlier.
Examples
- She claims she is descended from nobility.
- This species descends from ancient reptiles.
descend on/upon someone/something
1/dɪsˈɛnd ənəpən sˈoʊmˈoʊnsəmˈɛθɪŋ/
phrasal verb
Arrive suddenly in large numbers to attack or overwhelm
To arrive somewhere suddenly, often in large numbers, especially to attack or cause trouble.
Examples
- Protesters descended on the parliament building.
- Locusts descended upon the crops.
descend into chaos
1/dɪsˈɛnd ˈɪntu kˈeɪɑs/
idiom
Fall into disorder and confusion
To become very disorganized and out of control.
Examples
- The meeting descended into chaos after the announcement.
- When the lights went out, the classroom descended into chaos.
descend into chaos
2/dɪsˈɛnd ˈɪntu kˈeɪɑs/
idiom
gradually become chaotic
To slowly become very disorganized and out of control.
Examples
- The meeting descended into chaos when everyone started talking at once.
- Without clear rules, the online discussion quickly descended into chaos.
- The country descended into chaos after the president fled.