Real Dictionary

ascend
verb: If a staircase or path ascends, it leads up to a higher position.
verb: If someone ascends to an important position, they achieve it or are appointed to it. When someone ascends a throne, they become king, queen, or pope.
verb: If something ascends, it moves up, usually vertically or into the air.
verb: If something or someone ascends to a higher level, they reach a state that is better than the one they were in before.
verb: If you ascend a hill or staircase, you go up it.
verb: If you ascend in your career or in society, you gradually achieve success or a higher status.
verb: In some religions, when someone's soul goes to heaven, you can say that they ascend to heaven.

ascend in American English
to go up; move upward; rise
to move upward along; mount; climb
intransitive verb: to move, climb, or go upward; mount; rise
transitive verb: to go or move upward upon or along; climb; mount

ascend in British English
verb: to go or move up (a ladder, hill, slope, etc); mount; climb