To ascend means to move upward or climb to a higher place. When you ascend a staircase, you're walking up it. When a hot air balloon ascends into the sky, it rises higher and higher above the ground. Mountain climbers spend days ascending steep peaks, working their way from base camp to the summit.

The word also describes rising to a higher position or level of importance. When a prince ascends to the throne, he becomes king. When someone ascends through the ranks of a company, they move from lower positions to higher ones through hard work and skill. A pianist might ascend from playing simple songs to performing complex concertos.

Ascend is the opposite of descend, which means to go down. After ascending Mount Everest, climbers must carefully descend back to safety. Whether you're ascending a ladder, a career path, or a difficult challenge, you're making your way upward toward something higher.