Definition of TRANSCENDENT (original) (raw)
1
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
4
: universally applicable or significant
the antislavery movement … recognized the transcendent importance of liberty—
L. H. Tribe
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.
Synonyms
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 on the Web Polaris Dawn astronauts conduct private spacewalk The spacecraft didn't linger at the transcendent height, but eventually descended to a cruising altitude of 435 miles above Earth as the astronauts began preparing for what may have been the biggest test of the mission: completing a spacewalk. —Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 16 Sep. 2024 When forced to confront difficult decisions about their son’s future, Max and Ezra embark on a cross-country road trip that has a transcendent impact on both their lives. —Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2024 Six Indigenous fashion collections were showcased, each telling a powerful story of tradition, innovation, and transcendent love. —Okla Jones, Essence, 7 Sep. 2024 As all readers of American literature know, thus begins the dangerous and transcendent journey by raft down the Mississippi River toward the elusive and too-often-unreliable promise of the Free States and beyond. —Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 8 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for transcendent 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'transcendent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Latin transcendent-, transcendens, present participle of transcendere
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of transcendent was in the 15th century
Dictionary Entries Near transcendent
Cite this Entry
“Transcendent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/transcendent. Accessed 1 Oct. 2024.
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Last Updated: 25 Sep 2024 - Updated example sentences
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