descent
gb/dɪsˈɛnt/ us/dɪsˈɛnt/
B1
English
~ 3800
ereszkedés, származás, hanyatlás, süllyedés
NOUN
B1
1
ereszkedés
B1
Usage pattern:
the descent of [something/someone]
The plane began its descent toward the airport.
A repülőgép megkezdte az ereszkedést a repülőtér felé.
The hikers prepared for the steep descent into the valley.
A túrázók felkészültek a völgybe való meredek ereszkedésre.
Her rapid descent down the stairs startled everyone.
The parachutist enjoyed the gentle descent to the ground.
Learner examples
The plane started its descent.
A repülőgép megkezdte az ereszkedést.
We made a slow descent into the cave.
Lassan ereszkedtünk le a barlangba.
The road has a sharp descent.
The elevator makes a quick descent.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'descent' with 'decent' because they sound similar but have different meanings.
Meaning
Movement from a higher to lower point
Collocations
steep descent
|rapid descent
|make a descent
|begin descent
|descent into
Synonyms
drop (More informal and can suggest a sudden or vertical movement.)
Antonyms
ascent (Refers to moving upward, opposite of downward movement.)
Themes
travel
|nature
|sports
|space
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The act of going down from a high place to a low place.
The act or process of moving from a higher position to a lower one.
NOUN
B1
2
származás
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone] is of [adjective] descent
She is of French descent.
Francia származású.
Many people in the city are of mixed descent.
A városban sokan vegyes származásúak.
He can trace his descent back to the 18th century.
They are proud of their Irish descent.
Learner examples
I am of Japanese descent.
Japán származású vagyok.
He is of African descent.
Afrikai származású.
She is proud of her Spanish descent.
They are of mixed descent.
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse 'descent' with 'descendant'; 'descent' is the origin, 'descendant' is a person from that origin.
Meaning
A person's ancestry or ethnic origin
Collocations
of noble descent
|of Italian descent
|trace one's descent
|descent from
Synonyms
lineage (More formal and often used in historical or genealogical contexts.)
Antonyms
unrelatedness (Lack of familial or ancestral connection.)
Themes
family
|identity
|society
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The family or group that a person comes from, especially their nationality or race.
A person's family background, especially in terms of nationality, ethnicity, or lineage.
NOUN
B2
3
Usage pattern:
descent into [negative state]
The country's descent into civil war shocked the world.
Az ország polgárháborúba süllyedése sokkolta a világot.
His slow descent into depression worried his friends.
Barátait aggasztotta, hogy lassan depresszióba süllyed.
The novel tells of her descent into addiction.
Learner examples
He had a slow descent into illness.
Állapota lassan romlott, és beteg lett.
The city had a fast descent into chaos.
A város gyorsan káoszba süllyedt.
Her descent into sadness was sudden.
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse this figuratively without realizing it usually has a negative tone.
Meaning
A decline into a worse condition
Collocations
descent into chaos
|descent into madness
|descent into poverty
Synonyms
decline (A more general term for worsening, not always as dramatic.)
Antonyms
recovery (Returning to a better state after decline.)
Themes
health
|society
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Definition
When something becomes worse or goes into a bad state.
A gradual or sudden change from a better condition to a worse one.
Grammar
Dictionary form
descent
IPA
GB/dɪsˈɛnt/
US/dɪsˈɛnt/
Syllables & stress
des - cent (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (cent)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: descent
- Plural: descent, descents
Word family
Forms
descents
noun
Core family
descend
verb A2
descendant
noun B2
Advanced or less common
descender
noun
Expressions
descent into chaos
1/dɪsˈɛnt ˈɪntu kˈeɪɑs/
fixed phrase
Change into complete disorder
When something changes and becomes very disorganized or out of control.
Examples
- After the leader resigned, there was a rapid descent into chaos.
- The movie shows the city's slow descent into chaos.
make one's descent
1/mˈeɪk wˈʌnz dɪsˈɛnt/
fixed phrase
Start going down from higher point
To start going down from a high place.
Examples
- The climbers made their descent before sunset.
- We made our descent into the valley carefully.
of [nationality] descent
1/əv nˌæʃənˈælɪti dɪsˈɛnt/
fixed phrase
Having ancestry from a particular group
Used to say someone's family comes from a certain country or group.
Examples
- She is of Indian descent but was born in Canada.
- Many citizens here are of German descent.