move or fall downward, make a sudden attack on, originate from a particular ancestor or source

a descent into madness, a descent from grace, a descent of the Holy Spirit

descend into chaos, descend from the clouds, descend on/upon someone

Formal and Informal Expressions of descend

In different contexts, you can replace 'descend' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'drop, fall, originate' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'go down, come down, attack' is a commonplace synonym.

descend: Explore its Definition & Usage

descend Definition

1move or fall downward
2make a sudden attack on
3originate from a particular ancestor or source

Using descend: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "descend" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
The plane began to descend towards the runway.
Example
The sun slowly descended behind the mountains.
Example
The troops descended upon the enemy camp at dawn.
Example
The family is said to descend from royalty.

descend Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for descend

Antonyms for descend

Idioms Using descend

a descent into madness
a gradual or sudden decline into insanity or irrational behavior
Example
The character's descent into madness was a central theme of the novel.
a descent from grace
a loss of status, prestige, or favor
Example
The politician's scandal marked a descent from grace that he was never able to fully recover from.
a descent of the Holy Spirit
the Christian belief that the Holy Spirit came down to earth on the day of Pentecost
Example
Christians celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Sunday.

Phrases with descend

descend into chaos
to become disordered, confused, or chaotic
Example
The situation quickly descended into chaos as more people joined the argument.
descend from the clouds
to come down to earth from a state of being unrealistic or idealistic
Example
It's time to descend from the clouds and start thinking about the practical aspects of this project.
descend on/upon someone
to arrive suddenly and in large numbers
Example
The reporters descended on the celebrity as soon as she arrived at the airport.

Origins of descend

from Latin 'descendere', from 'de-' (down) + 'scandere' (to climb)

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Summary: descend in Brief

'Descend' [dɪˈsend] means to move or fall downward, make a sudden attack on, or originate from a particular ancestor or source. It can refer to physical movement, as in 'The plane began to descend towards the runway,' or to abstract concepts, as in 'The family is said to descend from royalty.' The phrase 'descend into chaos' implies a loss of order or control, while 'a descent into madness' suggests a decline into irrational behavior.