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sublime

American  

[suh-blahym] / səˈblaɪm /

adjective

1. elevated or lofty in thought, language, etc.: Paradise Lost is sublime poetry.

   Synonyms:

   noble, exalted

2. impressing the mind with a sense of grandeur or power; inspiring awe, veneration, etc..

   Switzerland has sublime scenery.

   Synonyms:

   majestic, imposing, resplendent, gorgeous, grand, august, superb, magnificent

3. supreme or outstanding.

   a sublime dinner.

4. complete; absolute; utter.

   sublime stupidity.

5. Archaic.

   1. of lofty bearing.

   2. haughty.

6. Archaic. raised high; high up.

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noun

• sublimes
  plural

1. the sublime,

   1. the realm of things that are sublime.

      the sublime in art.

   2. the quality of being sublime.

      the sublime of nature.

   3. the greatest or supreme degree.

verb (used with object)

sublimed, subliming

1. to make higher, nobler, or purer.

2. Chemistry.

   1. to convert (a solid substance) by heat into a vapor, which on cooling condenses again to solid form, without apparent liquefaction.

   2. to cause to be given off by this or some analogous process.

verb (used without object)

sublimed, subliming

1. Chemistry. to volatilize from the solid state to a gas, and then condense again as a solid without passing through the liquid state.

sublime British  

/ səˈblaɪm /

adjective

1. of high moral, aesthetic, intellectual, or spiritual value; noble; exalted

2. inspiring deep veneration, awe, or uplifting emotion because of its beauty, nobility, grandeur, or immensity

3. unparalleled; supreme

   a sublime compliment

4. poetic of proud bearing or aspect

5. archaic raised up

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noun

1. something that is sublime

2. the ultimate degree or perfect example

   the sublime of folly

verb

1. (tr) to make higher or purer

2. to change or cause to change directly from a solid to a vapour or gas without first melting

   to sublime iodine

   many mercury salts sublime when heated

3. to undergo or cause to undergo this process followed by a reverse change directly from a vapour to a solid

   to sublime iodine onto glass

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• sublimeness
  noun
• sublimer
  noun
• sublimity
  noun
• unsublimed
  adjective
• sublimely
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• sublimes
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of sublime

First recorded in 1350–1400; (for the noun and adjective) from Latin sublīmis “high,” equivalent to sub- sub- + an element of uncertain origin, variously identified with līmen “lintel, threshold” or līmus “askew, aslant”; (for the verb) ultimately derivative of sublīmis

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Explanation

In common use, sublime is an adjective meaning "awe-inspiringly grand, excellent, or impressive," like the best chocolate fudge sundae you've ever had. You might describe a spine-tingling piece of music as "a work of sublime beauty." With the, the word also functions as a noun meaning "something that strikes the mind with a sense of grandeur or power": "Never need an American look beyond his own country for the sublime and beautiful of natural scenery," wrote Washington Irving. The beauty of music or nature can be awe-inspiring, but sublime is also useful for describing everything from an impressive serve in tennis to a jaw-droppingly good taste sensation.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sublime sublimes sublimed subliming

But the business was viable, the staff was talented and reliable, and the work we made together would, often enough, touch something close to the sublime.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2026

The sublime setting aside, “A Stranger in Corfu” is also satisfyingly murky.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026

All of which goes to underline the main takeaway - the sublime quality of Antonelli's drive.

From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026

Douglas Keeve’s sublime 1995 documentary, “Unzipped,” follows Mizrahi in the aftermath of a train wreck, piecing his reputation back together with his next collection, attempting to make something beautiful from the rubble.

From Salon ● Sep. 5, 2026

The Tropics had the newest capital city on Earth, and it was called simply that: “Capital City,” in the sublime confidence of youth.

From "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov

Likewise, solid carbon dioxide does not melt at 1 atm pressure but instead sublimes to yield gaseous CO2.

From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019

The pentachloride sublimes when warmed and forms an equilibrium with the trichloride and chlorine when heated.

From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019

Dry ice does not melt to a liquid but sublimes directly from the solid state to vapor.

From Time Magazine Archive

When strongly heated it sublimes, that is, it passes into a vapor without melting, and condenses again to a crystalline solid when the vapor is cooled.

From An Elementary Study of Chemistry by William McPherson

This song, however, seemed to produce great effect on the French part of his audience, who sighed, started, and exclaimed—"Ah! quels sont touchans, ces sentimens sublimes!"

From Pencil Sketches or, Outlines of Character and Manners by Eliza Leslie

Then a greenish white solid sublimed, and this was found to be aluminic ethylate.

From The Galaxy, Volume 23, No. 2, February, 1877 by Various

The corroded white lead was somewhat whiter than the sublimed white lead, but a careful observation of the surface of the corroded lead revealed deep checking.

From Paint Technology and Tests by Henry A. Gardner

This important fact attests the length of time during which chemical processes continue after eruptions, and how open fissures may be filled up laterally by mineral matter, sublimed from volcanic exhalations.

From Principles of Geology or, The Modern Changes of the Earth and its Inhabitants Considered as Illustrative of Geology by Sir Charles Lyell

His heart throbbed with bliss that was unendurable; sense and intellect and soul and spirit were, as it were, sublimed into one white flame of delight.

From The Secret Glory by Arthur Machen

They were not adapted to inspire her with cheerfulness, but they sublimed her sensations, and added an inexplicable fascination to sorrow.

From Ormond, Volume III (of 3) or, The Secret Witness by Charles Brockden Brown

Oh, yea, the Sun in one subliming rise From Wisdom's infinite mind!

From Freedom, Truth and Beauty by Edward Doyle

But I believe he is chiefly meditating on the purging and subliming of what he has already done: and repents that he has published at all yet. 

From Letters of Edward FitzGerald in two volumes, Vol. 1 by William Aldis Wright

The development of the latent image by mercury subliming was the most marvellous and unlooked-for part of the process, and it was for that all-important thing that Daguerre was entirely indebted to chance.

From The Evolution of Photography With a Chronological Record of Discoveries, Inventions, etc., Contributions to Photographic Literature, and Personal Reminescences Extending over Forty Years by John Werge

That end will not be attained by our authors by subliming Religion into an emotion, and making an armistice with Science.

From Inspiration and Interpretation Seven Sermons Preached Before the University of Oxford by John William Burgon

You ought to know, my son," he said, "that this subliming pot is called aludel.

From The Queen Pedauque by Jos. A. V. Stritzko

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