How to pronounce ascendant
Say it like uh-SEN-dunt. Ascendant has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SEN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce ascendant. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uh
- SEN
- dunt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ascendant 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.
- SENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- duntKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of ascendant
American and British speakers say ascendant in essentially the same way: /əˈsɛndənt/ in the US and /əˈsɛndənt/ in the UK.
British respelling: uh-SEN-dunt.
What does ascendant mean?
- The degree of the zodiac or point of the ecliptic which rises in an eastern direction above the horizon at a particular moment (especially the moment of a person's birth), which is supposed to have a commanding influence on a person's fortune and life; a horoscope.
- Chiefly in in the ascendant: an act of ascending or rising.
- Synonym of ascendancy (“commanding influence; dominant control; superiority, supremacy”).“One man has the ascendant over another.”
- Moving upward; ascending, rising.
- Controlling, dominant, surpassing.
- In an eastern direction rising just above the horizon.
Where does ascendant come from?
The noun is probably derived from the adjective, though it is attested earlier than the latter.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with ascendant
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of ascendant.
- independent
- dependent
- defendant
- superintendent
- attendant
- pendant
- descendant
- transcendent
- resplendent
- interdependent
Questions about saying ascendant
How do you pronounce ascendant?
Say uh-SEN-dunt. The American pronunciation is /əˈsɛndənt/. In British English it is /əˈsɛndənt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ascendant?
Ascendant has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SEN). Broken into parts: uh · SEN · dunt.
Do Americans and Brits say ascendant the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /əˈsɛndənt/ and the British form is /əˈsɛndənt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.