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 British royals briefly greeted onlookers after attending an Easter service at St. George's Chapel in Windsor, England, an important fixture in the 76-year-old monarch's calendar as Charles serves as supreme governor of the Church of England. —Edward Segarra, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025

The Argentinian national was known as Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the archbishop of Buenos Aires, when he was elected the Catholic Church's 266th supreme pontiff -- and the first ever from Latin America -- on March 13, 2013, replacing the retiring Pope Benedict XVI. —Morgan Winsor, ABC News, 21 Apr. 2025

Pope Francis, supreme pastor to almost 1.5 billion Catholics, died on Monday at the age of 88. —Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 21 Apr. 2025

Sourcing + Trends Calendar The Archive Apply Now >> Fair Faux fur takes center stage, innovative weaves reimagine craft, and a sense of playfulness reigns supreme April 14, 2025 All products featured on Architectural Digest are independently selected by our editors. —The Editors Of Ad, Architectural Digest, 14 Apr. 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"