Descending - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Descending means moving or going downward, either physically (like stairs) or in order (like numbers from high to low). It can also describe a decrease in quality, value, or intensity.
Definition:
Moving or sloping downward, or decreasing in size, amount, or importance.
Synonyms:
falling, declining, dropping, sinking
Part of Speech:
adjective, verb (present participle)
Antonyms:
ascending, rising
Common Collocations:
descending order, descending staircase, descending slope
Derivatives:
descend, descendant, descender
Usage Tips:
Use "descending" to describe downward movement or a decrease in value or rank; often paired with "order" for rankings.
Common Phrases:
descending order of importance, descending into chaos, the descending sun
Etymology:
From Latin "descendere," meaning "to climb down," from "de-" (down) + "scandere" (to climb).
Examples:
- 1. The plane began its slow descent before landing smoothly on the runway.
- 2. She arranged the books in descending order of height on the shelf.
- 3. The hikers followed the descending trail into the valley below.
- 4. His voice was barely audible as he spoke in a descending whisper.