transcend

[tran-send]

verb (used with object)

1. to rise above or go beyond; overpass; exceed.

   to transcend the limits of thought; kindness transcends courtesy.

2. to outdo or exceed in excellence, elevation, extent, degree, etc.; surpass; excel.

   Synonyms: outstrip

3. Theology.,  (of the Deity) to be above and independent of (the universe, time, etc.).

verb (used without object)

1. to be transcendent or superior; excel.

   His competitiveness made him want to transcend.

transcend

/ trænˈsɛnd /

verb

1. to go above or beyond (a limit, expectation, etc), as in degree or excellence

2. (tr) to be superior to

3. philosophy theol (esp of the Deity) to exist beyond (the material world)

Other Word Forms

• transcendingly adverb
• untranscended adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of transcend¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Latin trānscendere “to surmount,” from trāns- trans- + -scendere (combining form of scandere “to climb”)

Word History and Origins

Origin of transcend¹

C14: from Latin trānscendere to climb over, from _trans- + scandere to climb

Example Sentences

Nobody, including him, guessed he’d given voice to the animating spirit of American reform that would transcend the parties over the next 20 years.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"These are causes that transcend centuries," he added.

Read more on Barron's

The setting is still a Swiss alpine hamlet, but the villagers are all members of some puritanical sect and its sleepwalking heroine, Amina, has longings that transcend its limits.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The best actors carry a kind of magic that reaches into us and transcends the silver screen.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Because some of this stuff just transcends words.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• eclipse 
• outstrip 
• overstep 
• transform