How to Pronounce Descending

To pronounce "descending", say DESC-end-ing — 3 syllables, IPA /dɪˈsɛndɪŋ/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

descending

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

If an accent sounds the same, your device is missing that voice — it falls back to the closest one.

Speed

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

Practice: Record & Compare

Record yourself saying descending, then compare with the target. Your audio stays on this device — nothing is uploaded.

3

Syllables

10

Letters

/dɪˈsɛndɪŋ/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “descending”

"descending" has 3 syllables: desc-end-ing. It rhymes with condescending and impending, if that helps it stick.

What does descending mean?

verb

  1. To pass from a higher to a lower place; to move downwards; to come or go down in any way, for example by falling, flowing, walking, climbing etc.

    “The rain descended, and the floods came.”

  2. To enter mentally; to retire.

noun

  1. A descent.

    “continual ascendings and descendings”

adjective

  1. (of a sequence) Ordered such that each element is less than or equal to the previous element.

    “Please arrange these numbers in a descending order.”

  2. That causes a sequence to follow a descending order.

    “We used a descending sort.”

Synonyms

go down

Antonyms

ascendgo upascending

Hear “descending” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Words that rhyme with descending

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

condescendingimpendingascendingtendingpendingintendingunendingcontendingblendingunbendingattendingpretending

Related words

declivitousdescendantdroppingdownwarddownfallingdownhilldegressive

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "descending"?▾

"Descending" has 3 syllables: desc · end · ing.

What is the IPA transcription of "descending"?▾

The IPA transcription of "descending" is /dɪˈsɛndɪŋ/.

What does "descending" mean?▾

Descending: To pass from a higher to a lower place; to move downwards; to come or go down in any way, for example by falling, flowing, walking, climbing etc.

Want the definition, translations into 8 languages, and read-aloud for full sentences?

Open “descending” in the full dictionary →