Descend
verb
To go or come down from a higher place to a lower place.
She descended the staircase.
Often appears as...
- descend a ladder
- descend the stairs
verb
To come from a particular person or group of people, especially in the past.
He descends from a noble family.
Often appears as...
- descend from ancestors
- descend from royalty
verb
To move to a lower level, especially in status or quality.
The discussion descended into an argument.
Often appears as...
- descend into chaos
- descend into madness
Usage tips
Disapproving
verb
To go to a place, especially one that is considered lower or less pleasant.
The team descended into the cave for exploration.
Often appears as...
- descend into a hole
- descend into darkness
verb
In genetics, to be passed on by inheritance.
This trait descends from the mother's side of the family.
Often appears as...
- descend through generations
- descend on the maternal side
Usage tips
Academic
verb
To go or come down from a higher place to a lower place.
She descended the staircase.
Often appears as...
- descend a ladder
- descend the stairs
verb
To come from a particular person or group of people, especially in the past.
He descends from a noble family.
Often appears as...
- descend from ancestors
- descend from royalty
verb
To move to a lower level, especially in status or quality.
The discussion descended into an argument.
Often appears as...
- descend into chaos
- descend into madness
Usage tips
Disapproving
verb
To go to a place, especially one that is considered lower or less pleasant.
The team descended into the cave for exploration.
Often appears as...
- descend into a hole
- descend into darkness
verb
In genetics, to be passed on by inheritance.
This trait descends from the mother's side of the family.
Often appears as...
- descend through generations
- descend on the maternal side
Usage tips
Academic
Definition 1 of 5
Pro Tip 1/3Physical Movement
Used to describe someone or something physically moving downwards.
The eagle descended rapidly to catch its prey.
Pro Tip 2/3Gradual Process
The action can be gradual, not sudden, emphasizing a smooth and steady motion.
The sun descended behind the horizon at dusk.
Pro Tip 3/3Change in Altitude
Often used to describe a decrease in height or altitude, such as in flying or hiking.
The plane began to descend as it approached the airport.
Pro Tip 1/3Physical Movement
Used to describe someone or something physically moving downwards.
The eagle descended rapidly to catch its prey.
Pro Tip 2/3Gradual Process
The action can be gradual, not sudden, emphasizing a smooth and steady motion.
The sun descended behind the horizon at dusk.
Pro Tip 3/3Change in Altitude
Often used to describe a decrease in height or altitude, such as in flying or hiking.
The plane began to descend as it approached the airport.
Pro Tip 1/3Physical Movement
Used to describe someone or something physically moving downwards.
The eagle descended rapidly to catch its prey.
Pro Tip 2/3Gradual Process
The action can be gradual, not sudden, emphasizing a smooth and steady motion.
The sun descended behind the horizon at dusk.
Pro Tip 3/3Change in Altitude
Often used to describe a decrease in height or altitude, such as in flying or hiking.
The plane began to descend as it approached the airport.
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Video examples
How does a jellyfish...
for protection and prey capture. Even baby jellyfish, the size of a pencil eraser, have the ability to sting. Larval jellyfish, ephyrae, look like tiny flowers pulsating in the sea. As they grow, they become umbrella-shaped with a bell at the top and descending tentacles around the margin.
Video examples
Why are sloths so slow?...
They descend from the canopy just once a week for a bathroom break. When sloths do move, it's not very fast. It would take a sloth about five minutes to cross an average neighborhood street. This unhurried approach to life means that sloths don't need very much muscle.
Video examples
Inside the minds of...
He had observed earthworms making choices about how to drag oddly shaped leaves into their boroughs, and was struck that a human might employ similar means to solve a similar problem. And if, as he thought, humans are descended from simpler creatures,
Video examples
Thoughts on humanity,...
began to alter. In the urban rush for a new, more embellished survival, things started to look a little different. I met people who had descended from all over the world, faces, races, genders, money-lenders. Definitions became more and more fluid.
Video examples
Strange Japanese Sea...
come here to where almost no one has ever been to the bays deepest darkest waters as we descend we take note of the anglerfish it can walk across the sand with fins that have elbows you may have an SUV or your driveway but I'm betting
Video examples
The effects of...
or human lungs, will compress as they descend deeper and expand as they ascend. After a fish bites a fisherman's hook and is quickly reeled up to the surface, the air in its swim bladder begins to expand.
Video examples
How much of human...
When we descend a bit further, we reach the zone where the deepest human structures lie, like ancient harbor walls and quays. We also see more shipwrecks sunk by storms, war, and collisions.
Video examples
Bird Of Paradise...
The character of the forest changes as you descend, becoming ever darker and damper, favouring different kinds of animals and plants.
Video examples
ONE HOUR of Amazing...
the character of the forest changes as you descend becoming ever darker and damper favoring different kinds of animals and plants
Video examples
To Mars and back, a...
descending dating back respecting that greatest artists Finkle know if you remain strong
Video examples
How does a jellyfish...
for protection and prey capture. Even baby jellyfish, the size of a pencil eraser, have the ability to sting. Larval jellyfish, ephyrae, look like tiny flowers pulsating in the sea. As they grow, they become umbrella-shaped with a bell at the top and descending tentacles around the margin.
Video examples
Why are sloths so slow?...
They descend from the canopy just once a week for a bathroom break. When sloths do move, it's not very fast. It would take a sloth about five minutes to cross an average neighborhood street. This unhurried approach to life means that sloths don't need very much muscle.
Video examples
Inside the minds of...
He had observed earthworms making choices about how to drag oddly shaped leaves into their boroughs, and was struck that a human might employ similar means to solve a similar problem. And if, as he thought, humans are descended from simpler creatures,
Video examples
Thoughts on humanity,...
began to alter. In the urban rush for a new, more embellished survival, things started to look a little different. I met people who had descended from all over the world, faces, races, genders, money-lenders. Definitions became more and more fluid.
Video examples
Strange Japanese Sea...
come here to where almost no one has ever been to the bays deepest darkest waters as we descend we take note of the anglerfish it can walk across the sand with fins that have elbows you may have an SUV or your driveway but I'm betting
Video examples
The effects of...
or human lungs, will compress as they descend deeper and expand as they ascend. After a fish bites a fisherman's hook and is quickly reeled up to the surface, the air in its swim bladder begins to expand.
Video examples
How much of human...
When we descend a bit further, we reach the zone where the deepest human structures lie, like ancient harbor walls and quays. We also see more shipwrecks sunk by storms, war, and collisions.
Video examples
Bird Of Paradise...
The character of the forest changes as you descend, becoming ever darker and damper, favouring different kinds of animals and plants.
Video examples
ONE HOUR of Amazing...
the character of the forest changes as you descend becoming ever darker and damper favoring different kinds of animals and plants
Video examples
To Mars and back, a...
descending dating back respecting that greatest artists Finkle know if you remain strong
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Elizabeth Bibesco
British Poet
To some people, the impossible is impossible. One fine day, they wake up in the morning knowing that they will never hold the moon in their hands, and with the certainty, perfect peace descends on them.
Quote examples
Jeremy Wade
We are descended from people who paid attention to dangerous things in the environment. People who didn't pay attention to dangerous things in the environment didn't get to survive and to breed.
Quote examples
Vaclav Havel
Czechoslovakian Leader
There are times when we must sink to the bottom of our misery to understand truth, just as we must descend to the bottom of a well to see the stars in broad daylight.
Quote examples
Charles Caleb Colton
English Writer
Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty; it is a blessing that must be earned before it can be enjoyed.
Quote examples
Neil deGrasse Tyson
American Scientist
If Mars formed life, then life on Earth could have been seeded by life on Mars, making every life form on Earth descended from Martians.
Quote examples
Amanda Gorman
American Poet
I am the daughter of Black writers who are descended from Freedom Fighters who broke their chains and changed the world. They call me.
Quote examples
Winston Churchill
British Statesman
From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the Continent.
Quote examples
John Updike
American Novelist
Rain is grace; rain is the sky descending to the earth; without rain, there would be no life.
Quote examples
Jasmine Guinness
Irish Designer
Mum and I were delighted to find out we were descended from 'bog-trotters.
Quote examples
Rush Limbaugh
American Entertainer
Character matters; leadership descends from character.
Quote examples
Elizabeth Bibesco
British Poet
To some people, the impossible is impossible. One fine day, they wake up in the morning knowing that they will never hold the moon in their hands, and with the certainty, perfect peace descends on them.
Quote examples
Jeremy Wade
We are descended from people who paid attention to dangerous things in the environment. People who didn't pay attention to dangerous things in the environment didn't get to survive and to breed.
Quote examples
Vaclav Havel
Czechoslovakian Leader
There are times when we must sink to the bottom of our misery to understand truth, just as we must descend to the bottom of a well to see the stars in broad daylight.
Quote examples
Charles Caleb Colton
English Writer
Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty; it is a blessing that must be earned before it can be enjoyed.
Quote examples
Neil deGrasse Tyson
American Scientist
If Mars formed life, then life on Earth could have been seeded by life on Mars, making every life form on Earth descended from Martians.
Quote examples
Amanda Gorman
American Poet
I am the daughter of Black writers who are descended from Freedom Fighters who broke their chains and changed the world. They call me.
Quote examples
Winston Churchill
British Statesman
From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the Continent.
Quote examples
John Updike
American Novelist
Rain is grace; rain is the sky descending to the earth; without rain, there would be no life.
Quote examples
Jasmine Guinness
Irish Designer
Mum and I were delighted to find out we were descended from 'bog-trotters.
Quote examples
Rush Limbaugh
American Entertainer
Character matters; leadership descends from character.
Example 1 of 10
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