as ‧ cend /əˈsend/ BrE AmE verb
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: ascendere , from ad- 'to' + scandere 'to climb' ]
1 . [intransitive] formal to move up through the air OPP descend :
The plane ascended rapidly.
2 . [transitive] written to climb something or move to a higher position OPP descend :
Without a word, he began to ascend the stairs.
REGISTER
Ascend is used mostly in literary or technical contexts. In everyday English, people usually say climb or go up :
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We started to climb the mountain.
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She slowly went up the stairs.
3 . [intransitive] written to lead up to a higher position OPP descend :
The road ascends steeply from the harbour.
4 . [intransitive and transitive] formal to move to a more important or powerful job:
The number of women decreases as you ascend the professional hierarchy.
5 . ascend the throne to become king or queen
6 . in ascending order if a group of things are arranged in ascending order, each thing is higher, or greater in amount, than the one before it
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THESAURUS
▪ climb to move up, down, or across something using your hands and feet:
Most kids love climbing trees.
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Several fans climbed onto the roof of the arena to get a better view.
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She climbed down the ladder.
▪ ascend formal to climb up something:
He began to ascend the narrow winding staircase.
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the first man to ascend Mount Everest
▪ go up to climb up something such as a slope or stairs:
He went up the steps to the platform.
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Sonia was quiet as they went up the hill.
▪ scale formal to climb to the top of something such as a high wall or ↑ fence :
Somehow the men had scaled the twenty-foot wall without setting off the alarm.
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Protestors scaled the walls of the building and hung banners.
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Rescuers had to scale a one-thousand-foot cliff before they could reach the injured climber.
▪ clamber to climb somewhere with difficulty, using your hands to help you:
At last we saw the two girls clambering down the slope to safety.
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Everyone clambered onto the back of the truck.
▪ scramble to climb somewhere quickly and with difficulty, using your hands to help you, especially when you are walking:
They scrambled up the steep rocky bank.