descend

/dɪˈsend/ (bre, ipa) · /dɪˈsend/ (ame, ipa) · /di-ˈsend dē-/ (ame, mw)

descend — 動詞

  • descendpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • descendshe / she / it
  • descendedpast simple
  • descending-ing form

1. to move downwards — for example, walking from the top of a hill to the bottom, c

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

下來；下降

從高處往低處移動

to move downwards — for example, walking from the top of a hill to the bottom, climbing off a ladder, or driving into a valley.

例句

Ryo descended the narrow staircase carefully, holding the wooden rail.

Ryo 小心翼翼地走下狹窄的樓梯，抓著木頭扶手。

transitive use: descend + staircase

Adina watched the elevator doors open and her grandmother descend slowly into the lobby.

Adina 看著電梯門打開，她的祖母慢慢地走下階梯進入大廳。

intransitive use: descend into [place]

同義詞
  • go down

    neutral everyday alternative; less formal than descend

  • come down

    implies movement toward the speaker or listener

  • drop

    suggests a faster, steeper downward movement

反義詞
  • ascend

    to go or come up

  • climb

    to move upward, especially using hands and feet

文法句型

descend + noun phrase (stairs, hill, ladder)

descend from + place

descend into + place

用法筆記

For physical movement downward, 'go down' and 'come down' are far more common in everyday speech; 'descend' sounds more formal or literary.

常見錯誤

❌She descended down the stairs.
✅She descended the stairs.
💡'descend' already includes the idea of 'down,' so 'down' is redundant.

2. when darkness, night, or an atmospheric condition descends, it arrives and gradu

2.動詞不及物B2
釋義

降臨

夜晚或黑暗來臨

when darkness, night, or an atmospheric condition descends, it arrives and gradually covers an area as day turns to night.

例句

Night descended on the small village much earlier behind the high mountains.

在高聳的山巒後方，夜晚提早降臨了那個小村莊。

night/darkness as subject

As evening approached, a thick fog descended over the harbour and hid the boats.

傍晚時分，濃霧籠罩了港口，遮蔽了船隻。

fog descends over [place]

同義詞
  • fall

    less formal; 'night falls' is common in everyday language

  • set in

    suggests a gradual arrival of a condition or weather

反義詞
  • lift

    when fog, darkness, or a condition clears away

文法句型

darkness/night + descend (no object)

descend on/upon + place

用法筆記

Usually used with an atmospheric or time-of-day subject (night, darkness, dusk, fog, silence). The preposition 'on' or 'over' marks the affected place.

3. if a negative emotion or mood descends, it suddenly spreads through a place or g

3.動詞不及物B2
釋義

籠罩

負面情緒瀰漫在人群中

if a negative emotion or mood descends, it suddenly spreads through a place or group of people and affects everyone there.

例句

A heavy silence descended on the classroom after the teacher announced the news.

老師宣布消息後，教室裡一片沉重的寂靜。

silence descends on [place]

Sadness descended upon the whole family when they heard about the accident.

全家聽到事故的消息時，悲傷籠罩了他們。

emotion noun + descend upon

同義詞
  • settle over

    suggests a more gradual, lingering effect

  • envelop

    stronger image of being completely surrounded by a feeling

文法句型

feeling + descend on/upon + place/person

silence/mood + descend

用法筆記

The subject is typically an abstract noun for a mood or feeling (silence, sadness, gloom, panic, calm). The verb is always intransitive; use 'on,' 'upon,' or 'over' to introduce the affected person or place.

常見錯誤

❌A silence descended the room.
✅A silence descended on the room.
💡'descend' for feelings needs a preposition like 'on' or 'upon.'

4. when a difficult situation takes hold across a whole area rapidly, causing disru

4.動詞不及物C1
釋義

陷入；蔓延

混亂或困境迅速擴散

when a difficult situation takes hold across a whole area rapidly, causing disruption or trouble for everyone involved.

例句

Chaos descended on the train station when the announcement system stopped working.

廣播系統故障時，混亂降臨了火車站。

chaos descends on [place]

Ife watched confusion descend over the crowd as the guide gave unclear directions.

Ife 看到導遊給出模糊的指示時，困惑漫延在人群中。

confusion descends over [people]

同義詞
  • afflict

    more serious and lasting; often used for illnesses or disasters

  • engulf

    suggests the condition completely surrounds and overwhelms

反義詞
  • clear

    when confusion, panic, or a difficult situation ends

文法句型

condition + descend on/upon + place

chaos/confusion/panic + descend

用法筆記

Sense 4 is close to sense 3 but specifically names a situation or condition (chaos, panic, confusion, disorder) rather than an internal mood. The affected scope is typically an entire location or group.

5. to come from a particular ancestor or family line; to have your origin in a prev

5.動詞不及物B2
釋義

是⋯的後代

源自某個祖先或家族

to come from a particular ancestor or family line; to have your origin in a previous generation or historical group.

例句

The Tanaka family is descended from a long line of skilled pottery makers in Kyoto.

Tanaka 家是京都一代代優秀陶藝家的後代。

passive: be descended from [ancestor/lineage]

Many people in this coastal town descend from Portuguese sailors who arrived centuries ago.

這個沿海小鎮的許多人是幾個世紀前抵達的葡萄牙水手的後代。

active: descend from [historical group]

同義詞

文法句型

be descended from + ancestor/family group

descend from + ancestor

用法筆記

The most common form is the passive 'be descended from.' In active use ('descend from'), the subject can be people, animals, plants, or languages.

常見錯誤

❌She is descended from a French king.' (correct)
✅She descends from a French king.' (also correct but less common)
💡Both are acceptable; the passive form is more frequent.

6. to lower yourself to a level of behaviour that you would normally consider benea

6.動詞不及物C1
釋義

淪落；降格

做出有失身分的行為

to lower yourself to a level of behaviour that you would normally consider beneath your dignity, often in a negative sense of stooping to something unworthy.

例句

Lucía refused to descend to the level of personal insults during the debate.

Lucía 拒絕在辯論中淪落到使用人身攻擊的地步。

descend to the level of [negative behaviour]

Tamás would never descend to spreading rumours about his former colleagues.

Tamás 絕不會淪落到去散布前同事的謠言。

descend to + verb-ing

同義詞
  • stoop

    very similar in meaning; 'stoop to' is less formal than 'descend to'

  • condescend

    emphasises acting as if one is superior while doing something beneath oneself

  • degrade oneself

    stronger moral judgement

反義詞
  • rise above

    to act with dignity and avoid unworthy behaviour

文法句型

descend to + noun/verb-ing

descend into + negative behaviour

用法筆記

Often used in negative constructions ('would never descend to') or preceded by 'refuse to.' The preposition 'to' introduces the unworthy action or level of behaviour, while 'into' suggests a gradual slide toward something negative.

常見錯誤

❌He descended to cheat on the exam.
✅He descended to cheating on the exam.
💡After 'descend to,' use a gerund (-ing form), not an infinitive.

7. to slope or lead downward; used for roads, paths, pieces of land, or other surfa

7.動詞不及物B2
釋義

向下傾斜

道路或地形逐漸降低

to slope or lead downward; used for roads, paths, pieces of land, or other surfaces that go gradually from a higher position to a lower one.

例句

The garden path descends gently toward the small pond at the bottom.

花園小徑緩緩向下傾斜，通往底部的小池塘。

path/land as subject

A steep driveway descends from the main road to the garage below the house.

一條陡峭的車道從大馬路向下通往房子下方的車庫。

descend from [higher] to [lower]

同義詞
  • slope

    more general and less formal; 'the path slopes down'

  • drop

    suggests a steeper or more sudden downward incline

  • fall

    common for rivers, waterfalls, and steep terrain

反義詞
  • rise

    to go upward (of land, roads, etc.)

  • climb

    to go upward (of a road or path)

文法句型

path/road/land + descend + adverb/preposition

descend toward + place

descend from + higher place

用法筆記

Unlike sense 1, this sense does NOT involve a person moving. The subject is the surface or route itself. It describes how a landscape or structure is shaped.