descending

D2E1S1C3E1N1D2I1N1G2
/dɪˈsɛn.dɪŋ/

adjective

Moving or sloping downwards.

“We used a descending sort.”

Similar
declivitousdownhilldownward-slopingdegressivedescendantdescendentdowndownward
Opposite
ascending
CommonScrabble 15
Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

verb
  1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of descend
adjectivedescending (not comparable)
  1. not comparableMoving or sloping downwards.
  2. not comparableOrdered such that each element is less than or equal to the previous element. (of a sequence)

    Please arrange these numbers in a descending order.

    1. not comparablecomputingCausing a sequence to follow a descending order.

      We used a descending sort.

  3. not comparableentertainmentBecoming lower in pitch.
noundescending (plural descendings)

plural descendings

  1. A descent.

    continual ascendings and descendings

Synonyms & antonyms

Opposite
ascending

adjectivecoming down or downward

Similar
declivitousdownhilldownward-slopingdegressivedescendantdescendentdowndownward
Opposite
ascending
Also see
declivitousdegressivedescendantdowndownhilldownwarddrizzlingdroppingraining

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From descend + -ing.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Arabic تَنَازُلِيّ, تَنَازُلِيّ
  • تَنَازُلِيّ (tanāzuliyy)causing a sequence to follow an descending order
  • تَنَازُلِيّ (tanāzuliyy)ordered such that each element is less than or equal to the previous element
Bulgarian намаляващ
  • намаляващ (namaljavašt)ordered such that each element is less than or equal to the previous element
Esperanto descendanta
  • descendantamoving or sloping downwards
Finnish laskeva, laskeva
  • laskevacausing a sequence to follow an descending order
  • laskevaordered such that each element is less than or equal to the previous element
Romanian descrescător
  • descrescătorordered such that each element is less than or equal to the previous element
Spanish descendente
  • descendentemoving or sloping downwards

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with descending

endingsendingspendingpendingattendingascendingdefendingblendingoffendingimpendingintendingcondescendingunbendinguncomprehendingantispendingdetrendingnonendingunpretending
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

descending. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/descending

MLA

“descending.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/descending. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “descending,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/descending.

Source: descending on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.