Definition of transcend
transitive verb
1a : to rise above or go beyond the limits ofb : to triumph over the negative or restrictive aspects of : overcomec : to be prior to, beyond, and above (the universe or material existence)
2 : to outstrip or outdo in some attribute, quality, or power
intransitive verb
: to rise above or extend notably beyond ordinary limits
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Examples of transcend in a Sentence
music that transcends cultural boundaries
She was able to transcend her own suffering and help others.
Her concerns transcended local issues.
Recent Examples of transcend from the Web
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On June 3, 2016, Muhammad Ali, the heavyweight boxing champion whose fast fists and irrepressible personality transcended sports and captivated the world, died at a hospital in Scottsdale, Arizona, at age 74.
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Pavarotti transcended opera to become a leading tenor.
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Brown has long viewed environmental threats like climate change as existential ones that transcend the typical fare of governors.
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Widely regarded as one of the finest footballers to have ever played the game, Zidane is arguably one of the few players to have transcended his sport.
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The Miami Heat's development program has transcended the roster, with the team on Thursday granting permission to the Milwaukee Bucks to interview Assistant General Manager Adam Simon.
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Network TV is a place where populist material — something everyone can relate to, enjoy or admire — can, on occasion, transcend and cut through the cultural landscape and become a thing unto itself.
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Give James credit for recognizing the debate transcends numbers.
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Steve Schnur, who has a really unfortunate sounding last name (Schnur…Schnuuuuurrrrrrr), had this to say: Our game soundtracks have now officially transcended their consoles.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'transcend'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
When Should You Use Transcend?
Great leaders are expected to transcend the limitations of politics, especially during wartime and national crises. A great writer may transcend geographical boundaries to become internationally respected. And certain laws of human nature seem to transcend historical periods and hold true for all times and all places.
Origin and Etymology of transcend
Middle English, from Latin transcendere to climb across, transcend, from trans- + scandere to climb — more at scan
Synonym Discussion of transcend
TRANSCEND Defined for English Language Learners
transcend
playDefinition of transcend for English Language Learners
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: to rise above or go beyond the normal limits of (something)
TRANSCEND Defined for Kids
transcend
playDefinition of transcend for Students
transcended
;transcending
1 : to rise above the limits of The music transcends cultural boundaries.
2 : to do better or more than The poem transcended all others in its beauty.
Word Root of transcend
The Latin word scandere, meaning “to climb,” gives us the root scend. Words from the Latin scandere have something to do with climbing. To ascend is to climb upward. To descend is to climb downward. To transcend is to rise above or climb over something's limits.
Learn More about transcend
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See words that rhyme with transcend Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for transcend Spanish Central: Translation of transcend Nglish: Translation of transcend for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of transcend for Arabic speakers
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