If you ascend a hill or staircase, you go up it.

If a staircase or path ascends, it leads up to a higher position.

If something ascends, it moves up, usually vertically or into the air.

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.

If you ascend in your career or in society, you gradually achieve success or a higher status.

In some religions, when someone's soul goes to heaven, you can say that they ascend to heaven.

If something or someone ascends to a higher level, they reach a state that is better than the one they were in before.