What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
descending
Example
The airplane is descending to land at the airport. [descending: present participle]
Example
The temperature is descending as we move into winter. [descending: verb]
lowering
Example
He is lowering the flag to half-mast as a sign of respect. [lowering: present participle]
Example
The teacher is lowering her voice to get the students' attention. [lowering: present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Lowering is more commonly used than descending in everyday language, as it is more versatile and covers a wider range of contexts.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between descending and lowering?
Descending is more formal than lowering, which is more commonly used in informal and everyday language.
