ascension day: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Religious, Calendar-specific
Quick answer
What does “ascension day” mean?
The Christian feast commemorating Jesus Christ's ascension into heaven, occurring 40 days after Easter Sunday.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The Christian feast commemorating Jesus Christ's ascension into heaven, occurring 40 days after Easter Sunday.
The specific Thursday in the Christian liturgical calendar marking Christ's ascension; also called Ascension Thursday or Holy Thursday. In some countries, it is a public holiday.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use the term identically. The holiday is more widely observed as a public holiday in the UK and parts of Europe than in the US.
Connotations
Primarily religious and calendrical. No significant difference in connotation between UK and US English.
Frequency
Higher frequency in religious communities and in countries where it is a public holiday (e.g., UK, Germany). Less commonly mentioned in general American discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “ascension day” in a Sentence
[observe/celebrate] Ascension DayAscension Day [falls on/is][On/During] Ascension DayVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “ascension day” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The vicar will ascension-tide preach on Sunday.
adjective
British English
- The Ascension Day service is at noon.
American English
- We attended the Ascension Day mass.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in holiday calendars and HR announcements in relevant countries (e.g., 'The office will be closed for Ascension Day').
Academic
Used in religious studies, history, and cultural anthropology contexts.
Everyday
Used when discussing plans, holidays, or religious observance (e.g., 'Are you doing anything for Ascension Day?').
Technical
Used in liturgical calendars, ecclesiastical planning, and historical dating.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “ascension day”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “ascension day”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “ascension day”
- Writing 'ascension day' in lower case when referring to the feast.
- Confusing it with Assumption Day (a different Marian feast in August).
- Misplacing the apostrophe (not 'Ascension's Day').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a public holiday in many European countries (e.g., France, Germany, UK), but not in the United States.
Ascension refers to Jesus Christ rising to heaven by his own power. The Assumption refers to the Virgin Mary being taken up to heaven by God.
It is always the 40th day after Easter Sunday, which places it on a Thursday. Easter's date changes yearly based on a lunar calendar.
While less common than 'Happy Easter,' it is a perfectly acceptable greeting among Christians observing the feast.
The Christian feast commemorating Jesus Christ's ascension into heaven, occurring 40 days after Easter Sunday.
Ascension day is usually formal, religious, calendar-specific in register.
Ascension day: in British English it is pronounced /əˈsɛnʃən deɪ/, and in American English it is pronounced /əˈsɛnʃən deɪ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to this term”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: Jesus' ASCENT into heaven is commemorated on ASCENSION Day. Both words start with 'ascend'.
Conceptual Metaphor
UP IS HOLY/HEAVENLY (the direction of ascent signifies divinity and completion).
Practice
Quiz
Ascension Day is always celebrated on which day of the week?