sublimely

UK: /səˈblaɪmlɪ/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

sub•lime /səˈblaɪm/   adj. 

1. elevated or lofty in thought, language, etc.
2. impressing the mind with a sense of grandness or power.
3. supreme or outstanding:
   a sublime dinner.

n. [uncountable]

4. the sublime:
   • the realm of things that are sublime:
     from the sublime to the ridiculous.
   • the greatest or supreme degree.

See -lim-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

sub•lime  (sə blīm′), adj., n., v., -limed, -lim•ing. 
adj. 

1. elevated or lofty in thought, language, etc.: Paradise Lost is sublime poetry.
2. impressing the mind with a sense of grandeur or power;
   inspiring awe, veneration, etc.:
   Switzerland has sublime scenery.
3. supreme or outstanding:
   a sublime dinner.
4. complete;
   absolute;
   utter:
   sublime stupidity.
5. [Archaic.]
   • of lofty bearing.
   • haughty.
6. [Archaic.] raised high;
   high up.

n. 

7. the sublime:
   • the realm of things that are sublime:
     the sublime in art.
   • the quality of sublimity.
   • the greatest or supreme degree.

v.t. 

8. to make higher, nobler, or purer.
9. Chemistry
   • to convert (a solid substance) by heat into a vapor, which on cooling condenses again to solid form, without apparent liquefaction.
   • to cause to be given off by this or some analogous process.

v.i. 

10. Chemistry to volatilize from the solid state to a gas, and then condense again as a solid without passing through the liquid state.

• Latin sublimāre to raise, derivative of sublimis
• Old French sublimer
• Latin sublīmis high, equivalent. to sub- sub- + an element of uncertain origin, originally, variously identified with līmis, līmus oblique or līmen lintel, threshold; (verb, verbal) Middle English sublimen
• (noun, nominal and adjective, adjectival) 1350–1400

sub•lime′ly, adv. 
sub•lime′ness, n. 
sub•lim′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. exalted, noble.
• 2. magnificent, superb, august, grand, gorgeous, resplendent, imposing, majestic.