ascension

/əˈsenʃn/ (bre, ipa) · [əsˈɛnʃən] /əˈsenʃn/ (ame, ipa) · [əsˈɛnʃən] /ə-ˈsen(t)-shən/ (ame, mw)

ascension — noun

  • ascensionsingular
  • ascensionsplural

1. a person's move into a more powerful, important, or successful role within an or

1.名詞C1
釋義

a person's move into a more powerful, important, or successful role within an organization, government, or society

例句

Sumin's ascension to chief editor surprised many of her older colleagues at the magazine.

ascension to + [job title]

The ascension of the young queen brought hope to the small island kingdom.

ascension of + [person] for taking power

同義詞
  • rise

    everyday word; ascension is more formal and ceremonial

  • promotion

    promotion is one event; ascension can describe a longer climb

  • elevation

    elevation suggests being lifted by others; ascension can be self-driven

反義詞
  • fall

    loss of position or power

  • demotion

    formal drop to a lower job rank

文法句型

ascension to + [position]

用法筆記

Subject is usually a person or a political entity, and the preposition that follows is almost always 'to' (a position) or 'of' (a person rising). Distinguish from sense 2: sense 1 is about status, never about physical height.

常見錯誤

He had a fast ascension in math class.
He made fast progress in math class.
💡ascension is for power, rank, or position, not for skill improvement.

2. movement upward — either a person climbing something tall, or an object travelli

2.名詞C1
釋義

movement upward — either a person climbing something tall, or an object travelling up through the air

例句

Diya watched the slow ascension of the red balloon over the rice fields.

ascension of + [rising object]

The team began their ascension of the icy north face just before sunrise.

ascension of + [mountain or wall] for climbing

同義詞
  • climb

    climb is the everyday verb-form word; ascension is the formal noun

  • ascent

    near-twin; ascent is far more common in modern English

  • lift-off

    specific to the start of a rocket or aircraft moving up

反義詞
  • descent

    movement down from a high point

  • fall

    uncontrolled downward motion

文法句型

the ascension of + [object]

用法筆記

Subject is concrete and physical — a balloon, rocket, climber, or aircraft — never a person's career. The word feels literary or technical; everyday speakers say 'climb' or 'rise' instead.

常見錯誤

The ascension of the elevator was slow.
The elevator went up slowly.
💡ascension is too formal for everyday vertical motion of household machines.

3. in Christian belief, Jesus Christ's rise to heaven forty days after coming back

3.名詞C1
釋義

in Christian belief, Jesus Christ's rise to heaven forty days after coming back to life from the dead

例句

Yael's grandmother told her the story of the Ascension every spring before Easter.

the Ascension as a religious event

The painting in the chapel showed the Ascension above a circle of waiting disciples.

the Ascension in religious art

同義詞
  • Ascension Day

    the specific yearly holiday marking the event

  • rising

    the rising; very informal alternative used in some churches

文法句型

the Ascension

用法筆記

In this sense the word is almost always capitalized as 'the Ascension' and refers specifically to Jesus, not to other religions' stories of going to heaven. Distinguish from sense 2: sense 2 is any physical climb, while sense 3 is a specific religious event.

常見錯誤

They believe in the ascension of all good souls to heaven.
They believe that all good souls go up to heaven.
💡'the Ascension' is reserved for Jesus's specific journey, not for general beliefs about the afterlife.