transcendent
adjective
Laurence H. Tribe
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The Latin verb scandere means "to climb", so transcend has the basic meaning of climbing so high that you cross some boundary. A transcendent experience is one that takes you out of yourself and convinces you of a larger life or existence; in this sense, it means something close to "spiritual". The American writers and thinkers known as the Transcendentalists, including Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau, believed in the unity of all creation, the basic goodness of humankind, and the superiority of spiritual vision over mere logic. When we speak of the transcendent importance of an issue such as climate change, we may mean that everything else on earth actually depends on it.
Examples of transcendent in a Sentence
Danielle Parker, CBS News, 15 Feb. 2026
Like so many 20 year olds before him, Zion Battle found something transcendent in Joshua Tree National Park.
—David Glickman, Pitchfork, 13 Feb. 2026
But the four mockumentaries that O’Hara made with Guest over the course of a decade—Guffman, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, and For Your Consideration—are the most transcendent examples of her comedic prowess.
—Paula Mejía, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2026
Prasanna draws parallels to composer Ilaiyaraaja, noting how both artists describe receiving their insights as transcendent experiences.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 27 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Transcendent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/transcendent. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
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transcendent
adjective
