ascendant
Upper-Intermediate (B2)
IPA: /əˈsɛndənt/
KK: /əˈsɛndənt/
adjective
Definition
Having a dominant position or influence; rising or moving upward.
Example
The ascendant leader inspired confidence in her team.
Conversation
Have you noticed how the ascendant trends in social media are changing?
Yeah, it's fascinating! Everyone seems to be following what's popular right now.
I think it's important to stay aware of these ascendant topics to engage with others.
Absolutely! It helps keep the conversation fresh and interesting.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
dominant
rising
upward
Antonyms
subordinate
declining
downward
noun
Definition
A person or thing that is rising in power or influence, or an ancestor in a family line.
Example
In the world of politics, the new leader is seen as an ascendant figure.
Conversation
Have you ever thought about how our family trees show our ascendant relatives?
Yeah, it's fascinating to see where we come from.
I found out some interesting facts about our great-grandparents' ascendant lines.
Root Explanation
Ascendant is formed from "ascendere" (meaning to climb or rise) and the suffix "-ant" (indicating an agent or something that performs an action). The word describes something that is rising or climbing, often used in contexts like astrology to refer to the sign that was rising on the eastern horizon at the time of a person's birth.
Memory Tip
Imagine something that is 'climbing' or 'rising' — 'ascendere' means to climb, and the '-ant' indicates it is doing the action. This helps you remember that 'ascendant' refers to something that is rising.
Visually Confused Words
reascendant
descendant
adscendent
reascendent