How to pronounce ascend
Say it like uh-SEND. Ascend has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SEND).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce ascend. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uh
- SEND
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ascend pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- SENDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of ascend
American and British speakers say ascend in essentially the same way: /əˈsɛnd/ in the US and /əˈsɛnd/ in the UK.
British respelling: uh-SEND.
What does ascend mean?
- To move upward, to fly, to soar.“He ascended to heaven upon a cloud.”
- To slope in an upward direction.
- To go up.“You ascend the stairs and take a right.”
Where does ascend come from?
From Middle English ascenden, borrowed from Old French ascendre, from Latin ascendō (“to go up, climb up to”), from ad (“to”) + scandō (“to climb”); see scan.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with ascend
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of ascend.
Questions about saying ascend
How do you pronounce ascend?
Say uh-SEND. The American pronunciation is /əˈsɛnd/. In British English it is /əˈsɛnd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ascend?
Ascend has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SEND). Broken into parts: uh · SEND.
Do Americans and Brits say ascend the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /əˈsɛnd/ and the British form is /əˈsɛnd/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.