descent
gb/dɪsˈɛnt/ us/dɪsˈɛnt/
B1
Anglais
~ 3800
Sens
0 sens
Nom
B1
action
1
Movement from a higher to lower point
The act of going down from a high place to a low place.
Schéma d’usage :
the descent of [something/someone]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes confuse 'descent' with 'decent' because they sound similar but have different meanings.
Synonymes
drop (More informal and can suggest a sudden or vertical movement.)
Antonymes
ascent (Refers to moving upward, opposite of downward movement.)
Collocations
steep descent
|rapid descent
|make a descent
|begin descent
|descent into
Thèmes
travel
|nature
|sports
|space
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- The plane began its descent toward the airport.
- The hikers prepared for the steep descent into the valley.
- Her rapid descent down the stairs startled everyone.
- The parachutist enjoyed the gentle descent to the ground.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The plane started its descent.
- We made a slow descent into the cave.
- The road has a sharp descent.
- The elevator makes a quick descent.
Nom
B1
entity
2
A person's ancestry or ethnic origin
The family or group that a person comes from, especially their nationality or race.
Schéma d’usage :
[someone] is of [adjective] descent
Erreur fréquente :
Some learners confuse 'descent' with 'descendant'; 'descent' is the origin, 'descendant' is a person from that origin.
Synonymes
lineage (More formal and often used in historical or genealogical contexts.)
Antonymes
unrelatedness (Lack of familial or ancestral connection.)
Collocations
of noble descent
|of Italian descent
|trace one's descent
|descent from
Thèmes
family
|identity
|society
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- She is of French descent.
- Many people in the city are of mixed descent.
- He can trace his descent back to the 18th century.
- They are proud of their Irish descent.
Exemples pédagogiques
- I am of Japanese descent.
- He is of African descent.
- She is proud of her Spanish descent.
- They are of mixed descent.
Nom
B2
event
3
A decline into a worse condition
When something becomes worse or goes into a bad state.
Schéma d’usage :
descent into [negative state]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners may overuse this figuratively without realizing it usually has a negative tone.
Synonymes
decline (A more general term for worsening, not always as dramatic.)
Antonymes
recovery (Returning to a better state after decline.)
Collocations
descent into chaos
|descent into madness
|descent into poverty
Thèmes
health
|society
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- The country's descent into civil war shocked the world.
- His slow descent into depression worried his friends.
- The novel tells of her descent into addiction.
Exemples pédagogiques
- He had a slow descent into illness.
- The city had a fast descent into chaos.
- Her descent into sadness was sudden.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
descent
API
GB/dɪsˈɛnt/
US/dɪsˈɛnt/
Syllabes et accentuation
des - cent (2 syllabes)
Stress on 2nd syllable (cent)
Formes du mot
Noun
- Base: descent
- Plural: descent, descents
Famille de mots
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.
Exemples
- 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.
Exemples
- 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.
Exemples
- She is of Indian descent but was born in Canada.
- Many citizens here are of German descent.