transcend

[ tran-send ]

/ trænˈsɛnd /

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See synonyms for: transcend / transcended / transcending / transcends on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to rise above or go beyond; overpass; exceed: to transcend the limits of thought; kindness transcends courtesy.

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

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

verb (used without object)

to be transcendent or superior; excel: His competitiveness made him want to transcend.

OTHER WORDS FOR transcend

2 outstrip.

See synonyms for transcend on Thesaurus.com

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of transcend

1300–50; Middle English <Latin trānscendere to surmount, equivalent to trāns-trans- + -scendere, combining form of scandere to climb

OTHER WORDS FROM transcend

tran·scend·ing·ly, adverbun·tran·scend·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use transcend in a sentence

I think our position represents the best of ethics and a consensus about principles that transcends lots of different specific moral commitments.
Who should get the Covid-19 vaccine first? Ethicists are fiercely debating how to vaccinate billions of people.|Sigal Samuel|November 20, 2020|Vox
Glenn — like Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Sally Ride — transcends the genre of space history and is known to the general public, even if only as a vague memory of one who flew into orbit during the dawn of the space race.
Another look at John Glenn through a heroic lens|Francis French|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
I think that desire for authenticity and courage in elected officials transcends geography, political ideology, and party affiliation.
Sarah McBride prepares for new role|Parker Purifoy|November 11, 2020|Washington Blade
In the wake of that success, Beane’s analytical approach eventually transcended the small-market A’s and reshaped the way every team crafts a roster, for better and for worse.
If Billy Beane Is Done With Baseball, He’s Left An Indelible Mark|Neil Paine (neil.paine@fivethirtyeight.com)|October 15, 2020|FiveThirtyEight

Now visible within the GMB dash, the new critical designation makes known that it transcends any one Google product.
What’s behind the badge that powers Google’s local trust layer?|Justin Sanger|October 13, 2020|Search Engine Land
Policy is about wielding power, while mercy is about transcending power by renouncing it.
No Gods, No Cops, No Masters|James Poulos|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
“The music is now transcending all types of people,” says Ronnissey.
This Charming Man: Meet 'Ronnissey,' Brooklyn's Fake Morrissey|Michael Moynihan|September 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We talk about evil and whether humans are capable of transcending our limitations.
With the Fireman of Brooklyn’s Company 224 as They Observe the Fallen|Maurice Emerson Decaul|September 12, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Bush 41 was back at the White House on Monday, transcending partisan bitterness as he was honored by Obama.
George H.W. Bush, Our Preppiest Ex-President, Honored at White House|John Avlon|July 16, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Rapture was self-transcending, which led to quiescence, tranquility, and catharsis.
Why Do We Cry?|Michael Trimble|January 10, 2013|DAILY BEAST
A gold chain, with a number of pendant scaraboei, was found in a tomb in Vulci, transcending anything before seen by him.
The Bay State Monthly, Vol. II, No. 6, March, 1885|Various
Music therefore may sound nice, but we desire to arrive at some explanation far transcending this.
Spirit and Music|H. Ernest Hunt
Thus it came to constitute a human ideal far transcending the hero.
Elements of Folk Psychology|Wilhelm Wundt
It has nothing to do with transcending mental states to arrive at an external object.
Essays in Experimental Logic|John Dewey
That would have been a grievous blow but for the transcending thought—it was not his grave that had been disturbed!
Notes of a Camp-Follower on the Western Front|E. W. Hornung

British Dictionary definitions for transcend

transcend

/ (trænˈsɛnd) /

verb

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

(tr) to be superior to

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

Derived forms of transcend

transcendingly, adverb

Word Origin for transcend

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

transcend

OTHER WORDS FOR transcend

Origin of transcend

OTHER WORDS FROM transcend

Words related to transcend

How to use transcend in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for transcend

Derived forms of transcend

Word Origin for transcend