supreme

adjective

su·​preme sə-ˈprēm 

sü-

1

: highest in rank or authority

the supreme commander

especially : in a position of unquestioned authority, dominance, or influence

the nation's supreme leader

This Constitution … shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.

—U.S. Constitution

In that house Lady Fawn reigned supreme, and no one ever doubted, for a moment, as to obedience.

—Anthony Trollope

On the runways, glitter and gorgeousness ruled supreme …

—Liza Foreman

see also supreme being

2

: greatest in degree, quality, or intensity

supreme satisfaction/pleasure/indifference

His was the perfect poise, the supreme confidence in self, which nothing could shake …

—Jack London

3

: characterized by highest excellence or achievement : outstanding

supreme among musicians

a supreme athlete

… does not a supreme poet blend light and sound into one, calling darkness mute, and light eloquent?

—George Eliot

4

a

: ultimate, final

soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice

b

: of utmost importance : crucial

… I knew exactly what I wanted to do as an adult. I would study dinosaurs, a firm conviction inspired by one supreme moment of childhood terror dissipated by fascination—my first look at Tyrannosaurus rex in the American Museum of Natural History.

—Stephen Jay Gould

supremely adverb

a supremely [=extremely] confident performer/player

supremely important ideas

supremeness noun

Synonyms

• chief
• commanding
• first
• foremost
• head
• high
• lead
• leading
• preeminent
• premier
• presiding
• primary
• prime
• principal
• supereminent
• top

Examples of supreme in a Sentence

The board has supreme authority over such issues.

She has an air of supreme confidence about her.

the supreme example of what not to do

a problem of supreme importance

It's a matter of supreme indifference to her.

Recent Examples on the Web

The barrage led Israel’s defense minister to overtly threaten Iran’s supreme leader. Israel, meanwhile, struck Iran’s heavy water reactor, part of the country’s nuclear program, which its government insists is meant for peaceful purposes only. —Elena Becatoros, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2025

Earlier in the day, Israel’s defense minister threatened Iran’s supreme leader after Iranian missiles crashed into a major hospital in southern Israel and hit residential buildings near Tel Aviv, wounding at least 240 people. —Sam Mednick, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2025

Congressional committees that have been briefed by senior CIA analysts have been told the intelligence community's view remains that no order to weaponize has been given by the supreme leader and that Iran has not restarted research on a delivery mechanism for a nuclear bomb. —James Laporta, CBS News, 19 June 2025

Now, with Israel taking out some of his closest aides and senior security figures, as well as significantly weakening its militant Islamic allies across the region, the supreme leader is beginning to look increasingly isolated. —Ruth Marks Eglash, FOXNews.com, 19 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin supremus, superlative of superus upper — more at superior

First Known Use

1513, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing supreme

• make the final/supreme/ultimate sacrifice
• reigned supreme
• ruled supreme
• supreme court

Rhymes for supreme

• abeam
• airstream
• bloodstream
• daydream
• downstream
• esteem
• extreme
• grapheme
• hakim
• hornbeam
• lexeme
• mainstream

Kids Definition

supreme

adjective

su·​preme sə-ˈprēm 

sü-

1

: highest in rank or authority

2

: highest in degree or quality

3

: greatest in degree

giving one's life is the supreme sacrifice

supremely adverb

supremeness noun

Etymology

from Latin supremus, a form of superus "upper," from super "over, above"