supreme

1 of 2

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 entry 1

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

reign supreme

2 of 2

phrase

: to be the best

As a director, he still reigns supreme.

Synonyms of supreme

Adjective

• chief
• presiding
• commanding
• foremost
• top
• primary
• leading
• high
• lead
• principal
• senior

Examples of supreme in a Sentence

Adjective

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

Adjective

After the supreme leader was killed in February, the Iranian regime posted banners of his son and successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, around Tehran. — Max Butterworth, NBC news, 15 Aug. 2026

Cut off from the rest of Virgin Gorda and accessible only by boat and helicopter, its supreme seclusion is a part of its unending appeal. — Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 13 Aug. 2026

Phrase

Ibiza continues to reign supreme as the Balearic island of choice, where Leonardo DiCaprio and Vittoria Ceretti, Dua and Callum Turner, and Dakota Johnson have all been seen. — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 16 Aug. 2026

Since that fateful summer, Steven Spielberg's sci-fi survival thriller has reigned supreme as the undisputed king of dinosaur films. — Megan McCluskey, Time, 14 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin supremus, superlative of superus upper — more at superior

First Known Use

Adjective

1513, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing supreme

• made the final/supreme/ultimate sacrifice
• make the final/supreme/ultimate sacrifice
• reign 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

Adjective

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