Descend (Verb)
Meaning 1
Do something that one considers to be below one's dignity.
Classification
Verbs of political and social activities and events.
Examples
- The high-society woman refused to descend to the level of petty arguments with her acquaintance.
- He considered it beneath him and wouldn't descend to writing gossip about his former colleagues.
- The young actress had to draw the line and wouldn't descend to accepting such a demeaning role.
- As a renowned artist, she declined to participate in the commercial and wouldn't descend to selling her paint at such low prices.
- He struggled with his character's flaws but refused to descend to performing the violent act on stage.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Meaning 2
Move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way; "The temperature is going down"; "The barometer is falling"; "The curtain fell on the diva"; "Her hand went up and then fell again".
Classification
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming.
Examples
- As the storm clouds gathered, the dark air would descend, shrouding the village in mist.
- The temperature in the house began to descend after she turned off the heating system.
- Her voice started to descend as she expressed her sorrow at her grandmother's passing.
- The sun began to descend slowly below the surface of the ocean, painting the sky in hues of orange.
- A sense of dread would slowly descend over his face when he was about to face his critics.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Hypernyms
Hyponyms
- Abseil
- Get Down
- Go Under
- Get Off
- Settle
- Plunge
- Swoop
- Rope Down
- Go Down
- Cascade Down
- Slump
- Light
- Roll Down
- Subside
- Topple
- Dismount
- Plunk
- Climb Down
- Correct
Related Words
Meaning 3
Come from; be connected by a relationship of blood, for example; "She was descended from an old Italian noble family"; "he comes from humble origins".
Classification
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations.
Examples
- She was descended from a long line of French artists and inherited their creative genes.
- He comes from humble origins, having grown up in a small village in rural Africa and is now a renowned philanthropist.
- The powerful CEO was descended from industrialists who built the city during the Industrial Revolution.
- She descends from a royal bloodline and has a claim to the throne if needed.
- His ancestors were well-respected shamans, so he descends from a long line of spiritual healers and leaders.
Synonyms
Related Words
Meaning 4
Come as if by falling; "Night fell"; "Silence fell".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- Darkness descended over the city as the sun set.
- Fear descended on the passengers as the plane hit turbulence.
- A deep sadness descended on her face when she heard the news.
- Chaos descended on the stadium as the fight broke out.
- A sudden stillness descended on the audience as the conductor raised his baton.