to go or pass from a higher to a lower place; move or come down

to descend from the mountaintop.

to pass from higher to lower in any scale or series.

to go from generals to particulars, as in a discussion.

to slope, tend, or lead downward

The path descends to the pond.

to be inherited or transmitted, as through succeeding generations of a family

The title descends through eldest sons.

to have a specific person or family among one's ancestors (usually fol. by from )

He is descended from Cromwell.

to be derived from something remote in time, esp. through continuous transmission

This festival descends from a druidic rite.

to approach or pounce upon, esp. in a greedy or hasty manner (fol. by on or upon )

Thrill-seekers descended upon the scene of the crime.

to settle, as a cloud or vapor.

to appear or become manifest, as a supernatural being, state of mind, etc.

Jupiter descended to humankind.

to attack, esp. with violence and suddenness (usually fol. by on or upon )

to descend upon enemy soldiers.

to sink or come down from a certain intellectual, moral, or social standard

He would never descend to baseness.

Astronomy . to move toward the horizon, as the sun or a star.

to move downward upon or along; go or climb down (stairs, a hill, etc.).

to extend or lead down along

The path descends the hill.

verb

ascend , go up , increase , rise

verb

cascade , cataract , cave in * , coast , collapse , crash , crouch , decline , deplane , detrain , dip , disembark , dismount , dive , dribble * , drop , fall , fall prostrate , get down , get off , go down , gravitate , ground , incline , light , lose balance , penetrate , pitch , plop , plummet , plunge , prolapse , set , settle , sink , slant , slide , slip , slope , slough off , slump , stoop , stumble , submerge , subside , swoop , toboggan , topple , trickle , trip , tumble , weep , abase oneself , concede , degenerate , deteriorate , humble oneself , lower oneself , patronize , arise , derive , issue , originate , proceed , spring , lower , atrophy , retrograde , worsen , land