transcendent

adjective tran·scen·dent \ tran(t)-ˈsen-dənt \

|Updated on: 12 Jun 2018

Examples: transcendent in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Did You Know?

Definition of transcendent

1 a : exceeding usual limits : surpassing

b : extending or lying beyond the limits of ordinary experience

c in Kantian philosophy : being beyond the limits of all possible experience and knowledge

2 : being beyond comprehension

3 : transcending the universe or material existence — compare immanent 2

4 : universally applicable or significant

the antislavery movement … recognized the transcendent importance of liberty
—L. H. Tribe

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transcendently

adverb

See transcendent defined for English-language learners

See transcendent defined for kids

Examples of transcendent in a Sentence

a firm belief in angels, demons, and other transcendent beings
the star player's transcendent performance helped the team to a surprise victory

Recent Examples of transcendent from the Web

Any appearance by the 68-year-old genius is a cause for celebration: Wonder’s tours this decade playing his 1976 Songs from the Key of Life in its entirety were truly wondrous, transcendent affairs.

— dan deluca, Philly.com, "Summer concerts: U2, Lauryn Hill, Taylor Swift and more come to Philly," 6 June 2018
That’s how transcendent Curry was before Kevin Durant came to town, and that’s why his record-breaking outing in Golden State’s 122-103 win in Game 2 of the Finals against Cleveland was such a positive sign for the defending champs.

— sam amick, USA TODAY, "Steph Curry's historic Finals Game 2 a window to Warriors before Kevin Durant," 4 June 2018
The elaborate production affirmed Grizzly Bear’s reputation as a band that makes transcendent sounds that explore rarified psychological landscapes.

— bill brownlee, kansascity, "Middle of Map Fest: Grizzly Bear to light up Crown Center stage," 1 June 2018
The world’s best player was transcendent, 51 points to go with eight rebounds and eight assists.

— al saracevic, San Francisco Chronicle, "Warriors vs. Cavs: Five things we learned from an epic Game 1," 31 May 2018
Spin classes have been home to some of my most meditative, transcendent, and important emotional moments.

— david levesley, GQ, "The Sweaty Homophobia of the Gym," 25 May 2018
Black genius work is transformative and transcendent, illuminating both the interior self and the behaviors of the exterior world.

— jason parham, WIRED, "Beyoncé, Kendrick, Kanye, and How the World Seeks to Limit Black Genius," 20 Apr. 2018
The real emotion of the piece lies in her piano playing, which is transcendent.

— christopher arnott, courant.com, "'Pianist' Returns To Hartford Stage, Yale Rep to Premiere New Haven-Based Drama," 22 May 2018
Who wouldn’t want to coach such a transcendent talent?

— gary d'amato, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "D'Amato: This Bud's for you, Milwaukee Bucks fans," 21 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'transcendent.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

The Latin verb scandere means "to climb", so transcend has the basic meaning of climbing so high that you cross some boundary. A transcendent experience is one that takes you out of yourself and convinces you of a larger life or existence; in this sense, it means something close to "spiritual". The American writers and thinkers known as the Transcendentalists, including Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau, believed in the unity of all creation, the basic goodness of humankind, and the superiority of spiritual vision over mere logic. When we speak of the transcendent importance of an issue such as climate change, we may mean that everything else on earth actually depends on it.