transcendent
adjective
L. 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
Nick Romano, EW.com, 17 Apr. 2025
The exclusive Dawn Patrol experience with Whistler Heli-skiing continues through April 20th, delivering adventurous souls to pristine backcountry bowls bathed in the golden light of sunrise—a transcendent experience that combines perfect snow conditions with breathtaking visual splendor.
—Shelby Knick, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
No one could have anticipated how transcendent Mahomes would become.
—Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 8 Feb. 2025
The Athletic has reported extensively about Harrison since the trade, yielding some insight into the man who sent a transcendent star packing.
—Bob Harkins, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for transcendent
Cite this Entry
“Transcendent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/transcendent. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
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transcendent
adjective
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