ascends
Gains altitude steadily
Ascends means moves upward.
A plane ascends after takeoff; a climber ascends a mountain.
The word extends to abstract rises: She ascends to the presidency.
To ascend a throne is to become monarch.
In music, an ascending scale moves from lower to higher pitches.
The tone is slightly formal—rises or goes up serves most everyday contexts.
Moves upward
- elevatesRaises in position
- escalatesIncreases in intensity
- intensifiesIncreases in strength
- amplifiesIncreases strength or volume
surges · soars · mounts · swells · climbs · skyrockets · burgeons · multiplies
Flies high, effortlessly
- risesMoves upward
- liftsRaises or carries upward
- climbsAscends by effort
- glidesMoves smoothly, frictionlessly
floats · levitates · takeoff · launch · updraft · altitude · buoyancy · thermals
Utmost height attained
- pinnacleUtmost summit or spire
- apexUppermost point or culmination
- zenithPoint straight overhead
- crestHighest point or tuft
summit · elevation · altitude · acme · vertex · mountaintop · highland · plateau
Peak or diplomatic gathering
- mountaineerProfessional summit climber
- alpinistHigh-peak climber
- expeditionOrganized exploratory journey
- footholdStable position for advancement
belay · rappel · harness · carabiner · crampons · pitch · overhang · lead
Surpassing usual limits
- enlightenmentProfound spiritual awakening
- awakeningReturn to consciousness
- nirvanaRelease from cyclical existence
- mokshaRelease from rebirth cycle
satori · salvation · redemption · divinity · heaven · rapture · soul · dharma
Forward movement or promotion
- careerLifelong occupational pursuit
- progressionSequential forward movement
- prefermentPromotion to higher rank
- elevationHeight above reference point
appointment · succession · rank · seniority · upgrade · recognition · achievement · breakthrough
rises
Moves upward
- elevatesRaises in position
- escalatesIncreases in intensity
- intensifiesIncreases in strength
amplifies · surges · soars · mounts · swells · climbs · skyrockets · burgeons · multiplies · accumulates
soars
Flies high, effortlessly
glides · floats · levitates · takeoff · launch · updraft · altitude · buoyancy · thermals · wingspan
peak
Utmost height attained
crest · summit · elevation · altitude · acme · vertex · mountaintop · highland · plateau · ridge
summit
Peak or diplomatic gathering
- mountaineerProfessional summit climber
- alpinistHigh-peak climber
- expeditionOrganized exploratory journey
foothold · belay · rappel · harness · carabiner · crampons · pitch · overhang · lead · toprope
transcendence
Surpassing usual limits
- enlightenmentProfound spiritual awakening
- awakeningReturn to consciousness
- nirvanaRelease from cyclical existence
moksha · satori · salvation · redemption · divinity · heaven · rapture · soul · dharma · bodhi
advancement
Forward movement or promotion
- careerLifelong occupational pursuit
- progressionSequential forward movement
- prefermentPromotion to higher rank
elevation · appointment · succession · rank · seniority · upgrade · recognition · achievement · breakthrough · ladder
- ascending orderSorted from least upward
- first ascentInitial summit of peak
- ascending colonBowel segment rising rightward
- spiritual ascensionSoul rising toward the divine
- mountain ascentUpward journey on peaks
- slow ascent
ascend, ascent, ascending, ascension, ascended, ascender, ascenders