adj Uncommon

sublime

suh-BLYM

Sublime (adj) means So impressive, beautiful, or grand that it inspires deep awe. Example: “The view from the summit was utterly sublime.”

adj

So impressive, beautiful, or grand that it inspires deep awe.

"The view from the summit was utterly sublime."

"Critics called the performance a sublime piece of acting."

verb

For a solid to turn directly into a gas without passing through a liquid stage, or to cause it to do so (a chemistry term also called sublimating).

"Dry ice sublimes at room temperature, turning straight into carbon dioxide gas."

How to use sublime

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishIn everyday use, something so beautiful or grand it takes your breath away; in chemistry, a solid changing straight into a gas.

When to use it

The chemistry sense is technical; the everyday sense is a fairly formal, literary way to say "amazing."

Common pairings

sublime beauty utterly sublime sublime to ridiculous

Word forms

sublimer comparative, sublimed past tense, sublime plural, sublimed plural, sublimes plural, sublimes singular, sublime singular, sublimed singular, sublimest singular, sublimedst singular, sublimeth singular, sublimest superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “sublime” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The view from the summit was utterly _____.

Etymology

From Latin sublīmis, "elevated, lofty" — from sub- ("up to") plus a root meaning roughly "raised."

Origin: Latin

Antonyms

deposit desublimate base unsublime

Related words

put set bad bank base station focus feet

Rhymes for sublime

time dime mime lime crime anime grime prime chime slime regime runtime

See all rhymes for sublime →

Frequently asked questions

What does “sublime” mean?

The word “sublime” means so impressive, beautiful, or grand that it inspires deep awe. In plain terms, in everyday use, something so beautiful or grand it takes your breath away; in chemistry, a solid changing straight into a gas.

How do you pronounce “sublime”?

“Sublime” is pronounced suh-BLYM (/səˈblaɪm/ in IPA).

How do you use “sublime” in a sentence?

Here is “sublime” used in a sentence: “The view from the summit was utterly sublime.”

What is the opposite of “sublime”?

The opposite of “sublime” — its antonyms — are deposit, desublimate, base and unsublime.

What part of speech is “sublime”?

Depending on how it is used, “sublime” can be an adjective and a verb.

Where does the word “sublime” come from?

The word “sublime” comes from Latin. From Latin sublīmis, "elevated, lofty" — from sub- ("up to") plus a root meaning roughly "raised.".

Is “sublime” a common word?

“Sublime” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “sublime” have?

“Sublime” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: so impressive, beautiful, or grand that it inspires deep awe.

People also searched

put set bad bank base station focus feet