ascent

noun

ə-ˈsent How to pronounce ascent (audio)
Definition of ascentnext
1
as in climb
the act or an instance of rising or climbing up our plane broke through some heavy low clouds during its ascent and leveled off once we were above them

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hill
an upward slope we'd reached the final ascent of the trail to the summit

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in promotion
a raising or a state of being raised to a higher rank or position his long, gradual ascent into the ranks of management

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ascent Pattinson’s ascent to the status of summer meme champion carries with it real cultural cachet. — David MacK, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026 The breakup hit simmered to the top so slowly that many who aren’t avid country listeners missed its ascent entirely — even the DJs who have their finger on the pulse. — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2026 Fletcher’s ascent to this role is something Big Mark always thought his son could do, even if Fletcher didn’t fully believe it himself early on. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 14 Aug. 2026 The singer was born and raised in the Caribbean country before her ascent to pop superstardom. — Edward Segarra, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ascent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ascent
  1. climb
  2. hill
  3. promotion
  4. ascension
  5. incline
  6. rise
  7. advancement
Noun
  • The higher Arsenal climb, the finer those margins become, and the more ruthless Arteta and Arsenal may have to be.
    — James McNicholas, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Still, Jolly has an uphill climb to the governor’s mansion in Florida.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of climb
Noun
  • When combined with the huge, steep hill that looms over the city centre, there can be a claustrophobic vibe.
    — Nick Miller, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
  • That offhand vision has since expanded into Canyon View Ranch, a five-acre luxury retreat tucked into the hills of Topanga that its clients refer to as Disneyland for canines.
    — Emma Madden, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of hill
Noun
  • Despite playing a pivotal role in Leicester’s promotion to the Premier League in 2014 and then the great escape to avoid relegation a year later that paved the way for surely the most unlikely title success of all-time in 2016, James had no offers.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Rules have tightened in recent years, and officials with children and a spouse in other countries are not eligible for promotion.
    — Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of promotion
Noun
  • De Niro and the Kaiser Estate were the gateways to the film’s unique structure of simultaneously telling the story of Vito’s ascension and Michael’s descension and the death of the Corleone family his father had built.
    — Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 14 Aug. 2026
  • What is your relationship to that branch of comedy and its ascension?
    — Lacey Rose, HollywoodReporter, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of ascension
Noun
  • The modular 3-piece system creates 14 different configurations from upright sitting and high incline to leg elevation and lumbar support.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Previously, the incline was about 3ft (91cm) from the Leazes down to the Gallowgate, but that is believed to have dropped by around a third after the installation of a state-of-the-art drainage system and improved foundations.
    — Chris Waugh, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of incline
Noun
  • Artificial intelligence has enabled the rapid rise of such tools, capable of digitally manipulating photos with little effort.
    — Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Although holiday spending plans are not particularly negative, many shoppers are feeling the effects of years of inflation and the recent rise in gas prices.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of rise
Noun
  • Having captured global attention with its dancing and kung-fu fighting androids, China’s Unitree has become the poster child of the country’s robotic advancement.
    — John Liu, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Research has shown that women with obesity earn about 6% less than thinner women for identical work and that people in larger bodies may also face discriminatory termination and negative stereotypes that can hinder hiring and career advancement.
    — Brittney McNamara, Vogue, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of advancement

Browse Nearby Words

ascensions
ascent
ascents
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ascent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ascent. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on ascent

Nglish: Translation of ascent for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of august

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All