in the ascendant

in the ascendant

Gaining in status, power, influence, or rank; on the rise. With nationalist extremism in the ascendant again, many are worried that the divisiveness in the country is going to get worse before it gets better. While the team was in the ascendant during the 1980s, its manager was quietly securing a spot for himself in the league's administration.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

in the ascendant

rising in power or influence.
This expression has been in figurative use since the late 16th century. Literally, in technical astrological use, an ascendant is the sign of the zodiac that is just rising above the eastern horizon at a particular moment.
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • rank above
  • rank above (someone or something)
  • ranking
  • rank below (someone or something)
  • rank higher than (one)
  • pull rank, to
  • start out as (something)
  • start off as
  • start off as (something)
  • start as (something)
References in periodicals archive
Shareholders in the Ascendant Group - whose portfolio includes the Bermuda Electricity Company - were promised they would receive US$36 per share under the proposed deal, a premium of 20 per cent over Thursday's closing share price of US$30 per share.
BERMUDA-ELECTRICITY-Shareholders approve Canadian group's takeover bid
Dennis Waterman has been missing from our screens for a few years now, but he recently popped up in the hit My Fair Lady and it looks like his star is in the ascendant again.
TV insider: Whatever happened to..? DENNIS WATERMAN
The twisted minds behind Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots appear at the Academy in Birmingham with their star very much in the ascendant. A lengthy American jaunt with the mercurial Beck will have honed the Lips' already impressive live chops and theatrical stage presence.
Culture: Now booking
Pearl Harbor hunk Josh Hartnett (left) is one young actor whose star is definitely in the ascendant at the moment.
Josh nets new roles