Generally, an ascension is the act of ascending, usually to a significantly higher personal state, as the ascension of a king to the throne. A physical act of ascending, such as in mountain climbing is more commonly called an ascent.

• In Christianity the Ascension is one of the great feasts in the liturgical calendar and refers to the Ascension of Jesus into Heaven forty days after his resurrection from the dead.
• In Theosophy, and some New Age groups, ascension is a process of spiritual enlightenment whereby any person may escape the physical plane of existence to become an ascended master.
• In astronomy, right ascension is used to describe positions in the sky.
• Ascension is a mountain climbing term.
• Ascension Island is an island in the southern Atlantic Ocean, it is so named because it was first recorded on Ascension Day 1503.
• Ascension Parish is a parish in Louisiana. (In that state a parish is equivalent to a county.)
• Mage: The Ascension is a role-playing game.
• Ascension is an album by John Coltrane.
• "Ascension" is the term used to describe winning in the roguelike game Nethack.
• Ascension is a process developed by the Ancients in the science fiction Stargate setting that allows people to become noncorporeal god-like entities.