descend

To move from a higher place to a lower place, often along steps or a slope.

• We descended the stairs slowly.
• The plane began to descend through the clouds.
• They descended the steep path to the beach.

How to use it: descend into something (We descended into the valley before sunset.); descend from something (The hikers descended from the ridge.)

Similar words: go down, come down

Opposites: ascend

Common phrases: descend the stairs, descend a slope, descend into something

To have a particular person or group as ancestors in your family’s past.

• He is descended from farmers.
• Their family descends from settlers who arrived two centuries ago.
• Are you descended from anyone famous?

How to use it: be descended from someone (She is descended from a family of sailors.)

Common phrases: descend from someone, descend from immigrants, descend from something

To arrive suddenly, often as a large group or in order to attack.

• Soldiers descended on the village.
• Hundreds of fans descended on the small town.
• The attackers descended upon the camp without warning.

How to use it: descend on someone/something (A crowd of reporters descended on the house.); descend upon someone/something (Armed raiders descended upon the village at dawn.)

Similar words: swoop down on, fall upon

Common phrases: descend on someone, descend upon something