Words / B2

uh-SENT/əˈsent/

An ascent is a climb or the act of going up: a steep ascent; the ascent of the peak. It is also a rise in status: the ascent of a party. Climb is the verb (already in the dictionary); descent is the opposite; gradient is the steepness. Time the ascent in the PE fixture, then the metres gained. Mix-up: ascent vs accent (speech); assent (agreement); do not write ascent for a downhill section.

Meaning

A climb or the act of going up; also a rise in status (the ascent of).

Examples

• “Time the ascent in the PE fixture, then the metres gained; mix-up with accent and assent.”
• “Time the ascent in the PE fixture, then the metres gained, not a slogan.”
• “The ascent of the party featured in the history source, which is the rise-in-power sense — still name the election year.”

Good to know

a steep / rapid ascent; the ascent of; make an ascent. Opposite: descent. Trap: accent / assent (classic trio). Geography, PE, and history. A climb, or a rise — quote metres or the year.

Near in meaning

climb, rise, uphill

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