transcendent

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

|Updated on: 19 Aug 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

The transcendent group included Juwan Howard, Ray Jackson and Jimmy King.

— chris nelsen, Detroit Free Press, "Jalen Rose hopeful for Chris Webber, Fab Five reunion: 'That's my brother'," 19 June 2018
The 2017 Louisville Cardinals, for the most part, were a talented team that won if their transcendent superstar was electric enough to overwhelm the other team and lost otherwise.

— jake lourim, The Courier-Journal, "U of L Insider: New stars must step up for Lamar Jackson-less Cards," 11 July 2018
In the West, free expression is a transcendent right only in theory—in practice its survival is contingent and tenuous.

— franklin foer, The Atlantic, "The Death of the Public Square," 6 July 2018
Is Aleksander Barkov the transcendent talent that lifts his line’s skill level, and drags his wingers with him?

— matthew defranks, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Does it matter who Panthers center Aleksander Barkov's linemates are?," 6 July 2018
How to create a naturalistic gaming environment that opens a player’s mind to the transcendent elements within?

— catherine cusick, Longreads, "Nintendo Can Keep a Secret," 22 June 2018
But Marquette fans were well aware of DiVincenzo’s talent before the transcendent performance that helped propel him to being the No.

— ben steele, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "DiVincenzo is more than a one-game wonder. Just ask Marquette.," 21 June 2018
Hamidou Diallo: The freshman's strengths - amazing athleticism, transcendent hops, dunking creativity - are well-known.

— matthew giles, chicagotribune.com, "Ranking the top 50 prospects in the 2018 NBA draft," 19 June 2018
Sad Mo Salah Face bums me out Mohamed Salah had a transcendent season with Liverpool, inspiring soccer fans around the world and causing people to paint his smiling face on buildings from Cairo to New York City.

— grant wahl, SI.com, "Russia Continues to Surprise, While Japan, Senegal Earn Landmark World Cup Wins," 19 June 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.