descending

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'descending' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate an action or process that is moving from a higher level to a lower level. For example: "The balloon slowly descended from the sky."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

At that point an unhappy sense of deja vu was descending for an England side who have been reminded all week that Sweden had not lost any of their previous seven fixtures when these sides meet in tournaments.

The Guardian - Sport

They meet on Pooley's day off, descending into joyous laughter before they embrace as only survivors do in a country running on a "no touch" policy.

The Guardian

Experts in the field include Deadmau5 identified by his mouse silhouette and Skrillex, infamous for his dramatic entries, like descending onto stage at Glastonbury Festival by spaceship.

The Guardian

Farage subsequently resigned following his defeat, only to be reinstated, with the party descending into turmoil after its leader was called a "snarling, thin-skinned, aggressive" man by a senior colleague.

The Guardian

I think the UTMB is a little more technical, there's a bit more climbing … and the Western States has more descents – but the descents are probably more painful than the climbing … What's your descending technique?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

One email began in a moderate tone – "Let us hope the public spending cuts in higher education put a speedy end to your career" – before descending into bigotry: "Perhaps that money-lending Jew will find you a job in gratitude after you did his spade work".

The Guardian - Opinion

Sheffield on Sunday could produce something similar, with the twist that the hills are far tougher, with constant climbing and descending from Keighley, 68km in, to the finish 132km later.

The Guardian - Sport

"It wasn't that they put it on me as an individual – that I'm uniquely qualified, an angel descending from the heavens – as that they put it on someone, somewhere," he said.

The Guardian

In 1913, at New York's Armory show, Nude Descending a Staircase No 2 was described with mockery as "an explosion in a shingle factory" or depicted as 'The Rude Descending the Staircase (Rush Hour in the Subway).

The Guardian - Arts

The sensational 150km dirt track from the remote northern town of Chachapoyas to Celelendín climbed up to a height of more than 4,000m before descending along a crumbling ledge clinging to a sheer precipice.

The Guardian - Travel

As some of the world's large cities turn themselves around and thrive – just 600 now account for two-thirds of global GDP – countless smaller and medium-sized cities, mainly in Africa, Latin America and Asia, are descending deeper into violence and becoming less liveable, says a leading Latin American urban specialist.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "descending" to describe movement from a higher to a lower point, whether literal (like an aircraft descending) or figurative (like someone descending into madness).

Common error

Avoid using "descending" when "declining" or "decreasing" is more appropriate. "Descending" implies a physical or metaphorical downward movement, whereas "declining" or "decreasing" refer to a reduction in quantity, quality, or intensity.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "descending" is as a verb, specifically the present participle of the verb descend. It can also function as an adjective, modifying a noun, as in "descending order". Ludwig AI confirms that it can be used to indicate an action or process that is moving from a higher level to a lower level.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

21%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "descending" functions primarily as a verb, indicating a movement from a higher to a lower position or state, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It is frequently used in news and media, formal business contexts, and science, and its register is generally neutral to formal. Common usages include describing physical descents, declines in status, and sequences arranged in "descending" order. While synonyms like "falling" and "declining" exist, "descending" carries a specific nuance of controlled or gradual downward movement. Therefore, it is important to ensure the word aligns with intended meaning. Best practice is to use the word for physical movement or figurative decline, and avoid when a general term such as "decreasing" is more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

going down

Focuses on the action of moving downwards, simpler and more literal.

moving lower

A more general and less dramatic way of describing downward movement.

falling

Emphasizes a rapid or uncontrolled downward movement.

declining

Refers to a gradual decrease, often in a non-physical sense, such as in quality or value.

plummeting

Suggests a steep and rapid fall, often implying a negative outcome.

diminishing

Highlights a reduction in size, importance, or intensity.

slipping

Indicates a gradual and often unintended decline or loss of position.

spiraling downward

Implies a continuous and worsening decline, often in a figurative sense.

tapering off

Describes a gradual reduction or decrease, often used for abstract concepts.

gravitating towards

Implies a movement towards a lower position or state due to an attracting force or influence.

FAQs

How can I use "descending" in a sentence?

You can use "descending" to describe something moving downwards, such as "The plane was "descending" for landing" or to describe a gradual decline, such as "The country was "descending" into chaos".

What are some synonyms for "descending"?

Some synonyms for "descending" include "going down", "falling", "declining", and "plummeting", depending on the specific context.

What's the difference between "descending" and "declining"?

"Descending" typically refers to a physical or metaphorical downward movement. In contrast, "declining" often indicates a gradual decrease in quantity, quality, or power. Therefore, while both words can suggest a downward trend, they are not always interchangeable.

Is it correct to use "descending" to describe an abstract concept?

Yes, "descending" can be used metaphorically to describe abstract concepts, such as ""descending" into madness" or ""descending" into chaos". In these cases, it suggests a movement from a higher or more stable state to a lower or more unstable one.