adj

sublime

suh-BLYM

adj

So impressive, beautiful, or grand that it inspires deep awe.

"The view from the summit was utterly sublime."

"Critics called the performance a sublime piece of acting."

verb

For a solid to turn directly into a gas without passing through a liquid stage, or to cause it to do so (a chemistry term also called sublimating).

"Dry ice sublimes at room temperature, turning straight into carbon dioxide gas."

How to Use Sublime

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishIn everyday use, something so beautiful or grand it takes your breath away; in chemistry, a solid changing straight into a gas.

When to use it

The chemistry sense is technical; the everyday sense is a fairly formal, literary way to say "amazing."

Common pairings

sublime beauty utterly sublime sublime to ridiculous

Word Forms

sublimer comparative, sublimed past tense, sublime plural, sublimed plural, sublimes plural, sublimes singular, sublime singular, sublimed singular, sublimest singular, sublimedst singular, sublimeth singular, sublimest superlative

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The view from the summit was utterly _____.

Etymology

From Latin sublīmis, "elevated, lofty" — from sub- ("up to") plus a root meaning roughly "raised."

Antonyms

deposit desublimate base unsublime

Related Words

acid bad base deposit withdrawal evil focus station

Rhymes for sublime

time dime mime lime crime anime grime prime chime slime regime pastime

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