transcendent
adjective
Laurence H. Tribe
Did you know?
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
Christopher Lynch,
The Conversation,
1 July 2026
The way the filmmakers, and their complex subject, craft a story at the intersection of race, history, celebrity, sport and justice is transcendent and unforgettable.
—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
29 June 2026
But my desire to experience and create a transcendent story never ended, and never will.
—
Literary Hub,
29 June 2026
The Rose of the North body scrub and massage in the top-floor turret is transcendent.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for transcendent
Cite this Entry
“Transcendent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/transcendent. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
transcendent
adjective
