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descend
/dɪˈsɛnd/
go or come down
The airplane began to descend toward the runway.
The airplane started going down lower toward the landing strip.
Law
formal
To pass property, title, or rights by inheritance from an ancestor to an heir.
The family estate will descend to the oldest daughter upon his death.
The family property will pass down to the eldest daughter by legal inheritance when he dies.
Often used with the preposition 'to'.
formal
To move, fall, or pass downward from a higher to a lower place or position.
The hikers prepared to descend the steep slope before nightfall.
The hikers made preparations to walk down the sharp mountain slope before dark.
More formal than 'go down' or 'walk down'.
literary
To slope or extend downward.
A narrow path descends into the secluded valley below.
A thin path leads downward into the quiet valley below.
Collocations
descend intogradually fall into a worse state, such as chaos or darknessdescend uponarrive suddenly or invade in large numbersdescend frombe related to or trace lineage back to an ancestordescend the stairswalk down a flight of steps
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Register Distinction
Use 'descend' in formal writing, technical/aviation contexts, or literature. Switch to 'go down' or 'walk down' in conversational speech.
Gold Rule
Do not confuse 'descend' with 'decline'
'Descend' emphasizes physical movement downward or lineage passing down, whereas 'decline' usually means a decrease in quantity/quality or a polite refusal.
Word Origin
From Middle English descenden, borrowed from Old French descendre, from Latin descendere ('to come down'), formed from the prefix de- ('down') and scandere ('to climb').
Usage Notes
'Descend' is a formal verb. In everyday spoken English, native speakers usually prefer natural alternatives like 'go down', 'get down', or 'climb down'.
Word Breakdown
de-
down or away from
prefixscandere
to climb
rootEnglish Dictionary