What does descending mean Meaning and Definition
What does descending mean
Pronunciation
(definition does not have a pronunciation)
Part of Speech
Verb, adjective, or adverb
Definition
To move downward in direction or to go from a higher to a lower position or level; to get smaller or less in amount or intensity.
Examples
- The car descended the mountain road slowly.
- The temperature descended to a record low.
Synonyms
- Going down
- Descendingly
- Downward
Antonyms
- Ascending
- Rising
Etymology
The word “descending” comes from the Latin “descendere”, which is a combination of “de” meaning “down” and “scendere” meaning “to go”.
Usage Notes
Descending can be used to describe a physical movement downward, such as descending a staircase or a mountain. It can also be used to describe a decrease in something, such as descending temperatures or stock prices.
Cultural References
The phrase “descending into chaos” is a common idiomatic expression used to describe a situation that is rapidly becoming uncontrolled or disorganized.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
- Descending into chaos
- To descend into madness
Related Words or Phrases
- Ascend
- Go up
- Climb
Collocations
- Descend slowly
- Descend from
- Descend to
Frequency of Use
Descending is a relatively common word in modern language, with a moderate frequency of use in most contexts.
Common Misspellings
- Desending
- Downsing