3 syllables: As, cen, sion. Stress on cen.
uh-SEN-shuhn
/əˈsɛnʃən/
Ascension is pronounced uh-SEN-shuhn (/əˈsɛnʃən/). It has three syllables (As-cen-sion), with the stress on "cen". Ascension is the act or process of rising or ascending, often referring to reaching a higher level, status, or place. It can denote physical ascent, spiritual elevation, or a figurative progression. In religious, scholarly, or metaphorical contexts, it marks upward movement or advancement from a lower to a higher state.
nounAscension is the act or process of rising or ascending, often referring to reaching a higher level, status, or place. It can denote physical ascent, spiritual elevation, or a figurative progression. In religious, scholarly, or metaphorical contexts, it marks upward movement or advancement from a lower to a higher state.
"The astronaut’s ascent into space marked a historic achievement."
"Her ascension to the role of chief editor was celebrated by the team."
"During the ceremony, his ascension to leadership was announced with fanfare."
Ascension is pronounced as uh-SEN-shun, with primary stress on the second syllable. IPA: US /əˈsen(t)ʃən/, UK /əˈsenʃən/, AU /əˈsenʃən/. The middle syllable contains /ˈsen/ (sounds like sen), followed by a voiceless /ʃ/ and a schwa /ən/ at the end. Ensure the /t/ links smoothly into the /ʃ/ cluster (not a strong /t/ release).
Common errors: (1) stressing the first syllable instead of the second (→ ah-SEN-shun); (2) mispronouncing the middle /s/ as /z/ or elongating the /t/ before /ʃ/ (→ sen-shotn). Correction: place primary stress on the second syllable, use a short, crisp /s/ followed by /ʃ/ for the ending, and avoid inserting an extra vowel between /n/ and /ʃ/.
In US/UK/AU, primary stress remains on the second syllable. Differences lie in vowel quality: US tends toward /əˈsɛn(t)ʃən/ with a flatter /æ/ vs UK /əˈsenʃən/ with a slightly more centralized /e/. Australian tends to be similar to UK but with a broader vowel in /ə/. The /t/ can be a tapped variant in rapid speech, but in careful speech it’s /t/ before /ʃ/. Rhotic influence is minimal in all, so the /r/ is not present.
The difficulty lies in the /n/ to /ʃ/ transition and final /ən/ cluster. Many learners merge /n/ and /ʃ/ or insert an extra vowel, creating /ənˈsaɪnʃən/ or /əˈsenʃən/. The correct sequence is /ən/ + /ʃən/ after the stressed /ˈsen/; keep the /t/ quiet or lightly released before /ʃ/. Also, avoiding an overt-long duration on the /ˈsen/ syllable helps avoid an unbalanced rhythm.
A distinctive feature is the crisp onset of /s/ in the stressed syllable and the /ʃ/ sound that begins the final cluster. Maintain a short, unobtrusive /t/ before /ʃ/ and ensure the /ən/ at the end is reduced to a light schwa. The contrast between the stressed /ˈsen/ and the trailing /ʃən/ helps the word stay natural rather than run together.
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Ascension comes from the Latin ascensio, from ascendere, meaning to climb. The Latin verb ascendere combines ad- (toward) with scandere (to climb). In English, ascension first appeared in the 14th century, transmitted via Old French ascension. Originally tied to physical climbing, it broadened to include metaphorical rising, such as social status, spiritual ascent, or celestial ascent. The term has religious resonance in Christian contexts, referring to Christ’s ascent to heaven or the ascent of the soul. Over time, ascension broadened in secular usage to denote any upward progression—ambition, rank, or achievement—while retaining its core sense of upward movement and elevation. The spelling has remained stable, though pronunciation evolved through English phonology to mirror a rising, aspirated onset with a soft -sion ending. First known uses appear in medieval scholastic and religious texts describing ascent in doctrinal or ceremonial contexts, and later in secular literature to describe metaphorical rise. Today, ascension is common in business, theology, astronomy, and self-help discourse, maintaining both literal and figurative implications of upward motion.
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Words that rhyme with "Ascension"
-ion sounds
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