descend
Move toward ground
Descend means to move downward, from a higher position to a lower one.
You descend a staircase, an airplane descends for landing, and darkness descends as night falls.
The word extends to abstract movement: prices descend, and a conversation can descend into chaos.
To descend from someone is to be their biological offspring across generations: She descends from Norwegian immigrants.
If relatives or visitors descend on you, they arrive in large numbers, often unexpectedly.
Fall or release
- fallDescend under gravity
- lowerReduce or move downward
- sinkBasin with drain
- plummetRapid downward descent
dive · glide · spiral · tumble · slide · submerge · rappel · abseil
Grow worse over time
Family line of descent
- progenyOne's biological descendants
- offspringBiological descendants produced
- heirsThose who inherit
- lineageDescent from progenitors
bloodline · genealogy · dynasty · heritage · succession · posterity · forebears · pedigree
One who submerges
- decompressionReduction of pressure
- finsSwimming appendages
- maskFace-worn concealment
- wetsuitInsulating garment for water
drysuit · regulator · bends · visibility · depth · fathom · submersion · snorkel
Get off something ridden
Indoor flight of steps
- stepsSequential actions in process
- ladderPortable climbing frame
- escalatorAutomated people-lifting stairs
- elevatorVertical conveyance between floors
banister · railing · landing · flight · climb-down · stepladder · stairwell · handrail
drop
Fall or release
plummet · dive · glide · spiral · tumble · slide · submerge · rappel · abseil · parachute
deteriorate
Grow worse over time
degrade · weaken · slump · dip · drop · fall · sink · ebb · wane · decay
ancestry
Family line of descent
lineage · bloodline · genealogy · dynasty · heritage · succession · posterity · forebears · pedigree · family
diver
One who submerges
- decompressionReduction of pressure
- finsSwimming appendages
- maskFace-worn concealment
wetsuit · drysuit · regulator · bends · visibility · depth · fathom · submersion · snorkel · underwater
dismount
Get off something ridden
debark · touchdown · land · exit · egress · settle · perch · alight
staircase
Indoor flight of steps
- stepsSequential actions in process
- ladderPortable climbing frame
- escalatorAutomated people-lifting stairs
elevator · banister · railing · landing · flight · climb-down · stepladder · stairwell · handrail · tread
swoop
Rapid downward plunge
strike · assault · charge · onslaught · incursion · foray · blitz · invasion · offensive · sortie
skiing
Snow sport on runners
piste · alpine · mountain · trail · gondola · downhill · chairlift · mogul · schuss · run
- descend onArrive suddenly, often overwhelmingly
- direct descendantAncestor's biological successor
- descend uponArrive suddenly, often overwhelmingly
- descent into madnessProgressive loss of sanity
- controlled descentIntentional, regulated falling
- descending orderArrangement from greatest downward
descent, descendants, descendant, descending, condescend, descended, descends, condescending, condescension