To move oneself downwards
“The two rescue firefighters should position themselves to face forward as they descend the stairs.”
To fall or dive downwards or to a lower level
“Within moments, I descend to depths I would have assumed impossible without scuba gear.”
To move or fall (at an angle) to a lower level, pitch, etc.
“While there would be a number of steep upward climbs, far more of the path would descend from the mountains.”
To decrease in level, amount or value
“Of special interest was the fact that almost no one believed that future prices would descend from present levels.”
To decline or deteriorate in state
“We must not descend to the depth of lawlessness for which the criminal was sentenced.”
To act in a shameful way that is far below one's usual standards
“He was scrupulous in refusing to descend to misrepresentation.”
To make an unexpected, and typically aggressive, visit to a place
“What is it about this time of the year that encourages normally passive shoppers suddenly to descend on the shops in search of all kinds of gifts?”
To disembark or get off (a vehicle)
“As we descend from the bus, we see smoke billowing from an enormous barbecue grill decorated with Boca flags.”
To affect or come upon
“As this festival approached, each of them was seized by a terror that some sort of similar misfortune would descend on his house.”
To originate from, especially by way of ancestry
“If I descend from royalty, and if two of my ancestors have worn a crown, I hope to prove myself worthy of them and you.”
(of an asset) To pass by inheritance, typically from parent to child
“Subject to her right of dower, the estate descended to his two sons.”
Related Words and Phrases
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