1
a
: the act of rising or mounting upward : climb
completed their ascent of the mountain
b
: an upward slope or rising grade : acclivity
followed the steep ascent to the top of the hill
c
: the degree of elevation : inclination, gradient
2
: an advance in social status or reputation : progress
their ascent from the lower class to the middle class
3
: a going back in time or upward in order of genealogical succession
Examples of ascent in a Sentence
They followed a steep ascent to the top of the hill.
our plane broke through some heavy low clouds during its ascent and leveled off once we were above them
Recent Examples on the Web
At the time, Alex Lowe was considered one of the best alpinists of his generation, establishing bold first ascents in Antarctica, Baffin Island, and in the Himalaya.
—
Corey Buhay, Outside Online, 15 Nov. 2024
Yet Harris' ascent to the White House has resonated deeply with local women who see her as a symbol of possibility.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Flanner, who was The New Yorker’s Paris correspondent for almost 50 years, thrillingly recounts Jeffries’s efforts to evade the Nazis on her trek to freedom, which include a harrowing nighttime river crossing before a mountain ascent to the relative safety of Spain.
—Jared Sullivan, The Atlantic, 17 Oct. 2024
Tyler, the Creator has been one of the biggest names in hip-hop for nearly a decade and a half now, but his commercial performance and general stardom is still on the ascent.
—Eric Renner Brown, Billboard, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ascent 
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.
Corey Buhay, Outside Online, 15 Nov. 2024
Yet Harris' ascent to the White House has resonated deeply with local women who see her as a symbol of possibility.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Flanner, who was The New Yorker’s Paris correspondent for almost 50 years, thrillingly recounts Jeffries’s efforts to evade the Nazis on her trek to freedom, which include a harrowing nighttime river crossing before a mountain ascent to the relative safety of Spain.
—Jared Sullivan, The Atlantic, 17 Oct. 2024
Tyler, the Creator has been one of the biggest names in hip-hop for nearly a decade and a half now, but his commercial performance and general stardom is still on the ascent.
—Eric Renner Brown, Billboard, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ascent
Articles Related to ascent
Dictionary Entries Near ascent
Cite this Entry
“Ascent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ascent. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ascent
noun
as·cent
ə-ˈsent 
a-
1
: the act of rising or climbing up
began their ascent of the mountain
2
: an upward slope
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share