- 1[countable, usually singular] an action of coming or going down The plane began its descent to JFK. (figurative) the country's swift descent into anarchy opposite ascent
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- 2[countable] a slope going downward There is a gradual descent to the ocean. opposite ascent
- 3[uncountable] a person's family origins synonym ancestry to be of Scottish descent descent from somebody He traces his line of descent from the Mayflower Pilgrims.
Check pronunciation: descent