ascension

The word ascension describes the act of rising up through the air. When a plane takes off, it is in ascension, or rising up in the sky.

The noun ascension derives from the Latin word ascendere, meaning "to mound, ascend, go up." You may have observed the ascension, or rising, of a star above the horizon with your telescope. Watching the ascension of a space shuttle up into the earth's atmosphere can be a thrilling experience. The ascension of a hot air balloon up into the sky can be a beautiful sight on a summer's evening.

Definitions of ascension
  1. noun
    a movement upward
    synonyms: ascent, rise, rising
    see moresee less
    Antonyms:
    fall
    a movement downward
    types:
    show 8 types...
    hide 8 types...
    climb, climbing, mounting
    an event that involves rising to a higher point (as in altitude or temperature or intensity etc.)
    elevation, lift, raising
    the event of something being raised upward
    heave, heaving
    an upward movement (especially a rhythmical rising and falling)
    liftoff
    the initial ascent of a rocket from its launching pad
    rapid climb, rapid growth, zoom
    a rapid rise
    takeoff
    the initial ascent of an airplane as it becomes airborne
    upheaval, uplift, upthrow, upthrust
    (geology) a rise of land to a higher elevation (as in the process of mountain building)
    uplifting
    the rise of something
    type of:
    change of location, travel
    a movement through space that changes the location of something
  2. noun
    the act of changing location in an upward direction
    synonyms: ascending, ascent, rise
    see moresee less
    types:
    show 8 types...
    hide 8 types...
    levitation
    the act of raising (a body) from the ground by presumably spiritualistic means
    heave, heaving
    the act of lifting something with great effort
    climb, mount
    the act of climbing something
    soar, zoom
    the act of rising upward into the air
    scaling
    ascent by or as if by a ladder
    clamber
    an awkward climb
    mountain climbing, mountaineering
    the activity of climbing a mountain
    rock climbing
    the sport or pastime of scaling rock masses on mountain sides (especially with the help of ropes and special equipment)
    type of:
    motion, move, movement
    the act of changing location from one place to another
  3. noun
    (astronomy) the rising of a star above the horizon
    see moresee less
    type of:
    change of location, travel
    a movement through space that changes the location of something
Word Family