descend
gb/dɪsˈɛnd/ us/dɪsˈɛnd/
A2
Anglais
~ 4700
Sens
0 sens
Verbe
A2
action
1
Move downward from higher point
To go down from a higher place to a lower place.
Schéma d’usage :
to descend [something]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes confuse 'descend' with 'decrease', but 'descend' refers specifically to physical or metaphorical movement downwards, not numerical reduction.
Synonymes
go down (More informal and general than 'descend'.)
Antonymes
ascend (Means to move upward from a lower to a higher place.)
Collocations
descend the stairs
|descend a hill
|descend into the valley
|descend from the mountain
Thèmes
movement
|travel
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- The hikers began to descend the steep trail.
- The plane will descend to 3,000 feet before landing.
- Darkness began to descend over the city.
- We slowly descended the stone steps to the beach.
Exemples pédagogiques
- We descend the hill together.
- The plane descends slowly.
- She descends the stairs quickly.
- They descend into the valley.
Verbe
B1
action
2
Come from an ancestor or source
To come from a family member who lived before you.
Schéma d’usage :
to descend from [someone/something]
Erreur fréquente :
Some learners use 'descend of' instead of the correct 'descend from'.
Synonymes
derive from (More formal and general; can refer to non-human origins.)
Antonymes
originate in (Can be used in contrast when talking about different sources.)
Collocations
descend from royalty
|descend from immigrants
|descend from ancient tribes
Thèmes
family
|history
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- She claims to descend from a long line of artists.
- Modern whales descend from land-dwelling mammals.
- Many Americans descend from European immigrants.
Exemples pédagogiques
- I descend from a small village family.
- He says he descends from kings.
- We descend from farmers.
Verbe
B2
action
3
Change into worse condition
To become worse or fall into a bad situation.
Schéma d’usage :
to descend into [state]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners may confuse this with physical movement; here it is metaphorical for worsening conditions.
Synonymes
deteriorate (Focuses on gradual worsening rather than sudden change.)
Antonymes
improve (Refers to becoming better rather than worse.)
Collocations
descend into chaos
|descend into madness
|descend into poverty
Thèmes
emotions
|society
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- The peaceful protest quickly descended into violence.
- After losing his job, he descended into depression.
- The meeting descended into an argument.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The game descended into fighting.
- The city descended into fear.
- The party descended into noise.
Verbe
B2
action
4
Attack by moving down suddenly
To come down quickly onto someone or something to attack or take over.
Schéma d’usage :
to descend on/upon [someone/something]
Synonymes
pounce on (More informal; often used for animals or sudden criticism.)
Antonymes
retreat from (Means to move away instead of attacking.)
Collocations
descend on the town
|descend upon the enemy
|descend on the prey
Thèmes
conflict
|nature
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- The army descended on the city at dawn.
- Reporters descended upon the celebrity as she left the court.
- Seagulls descended on the picnic area.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The soldiers descended on the village.
- Fans descended on the shop for tickets.
- Birds descended on the food.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
descend
API
GB/dɪsˈɛnd/
US/dɪsˈɛnd/
Syllabes et accentuation
des - cend (2 syllabes)
Stress on 2nd syllable (cend)
Formes du mot
Verb
- Base: descend
- 3rd Person Singular: descends
- Present Participle: descending
- Past: descended
Famille de mots
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.
Exemples
- 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.
Exemples
- 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.
Exemples
- 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.
Exemples
- 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.