transcend

verb

tran·scend tran(t)-ˈsend

transcended; transcending; transcends

Synonyms of transcend next

transitive verb

: to rise above or go beyond the limits of

: to triumph over the negative or restrictive aspects of : overcome

: to be prior to, beyond, and above (the universe or material existence)

: to outstrip or outdo in some attribute, quality, or power

intransitive verb

: to rise above or extend notably beyond ordinary limits

Choose the Right Synonym for transcend

exceed, surpass, transcend, excel, outdo, outstrip mean to go or be beyond a stated or implied limit, measure, or degree.

exceed implies going beyond a limit set by authority or established by custom or by prior achievement.

exceed the speed limit

surpass suggests superiority in quality, merit, or skill.

the book surpassed our expectations

transcend implies a rising or extending notably above or beyond ordinary limits.

transcended the values of their culture

excel implies preeminence in achievement or quality and may suggest superiority to all others.

excels in mathematics

outdo applies to a bettering or exceeding what has been done before.

outdid herself this time

outstrip suggests surpassing in a race or competition.

outstripped other firms in sales

Examples of transcend in a Sentence

music that transcends cultural boundaries She was able to transcend her own suffering and help others. Her concerns transcended local issues.

Recent Examples on the Web But the execution is at once ghoulishly violent, cartoonishly soapy, and too formulaic to transcend the macho fantasies of its makers. —

Judy Berman, TIME, 17 July 2024 During the course of four seasons, the Beverly Hills, 90210 star transcended cliche and played the teenage character of Brenda Walsh with the gale force of a midwestern winter. —

Perrie Samotin, Glamour, 15 July 2024 To transcend his base, Trump must electrify all Americans—the rich and the poor, the old and the young, the tall and the short, the rotund and the skinny. —

Armstrong Williams, Baltimore Sun, 14 July 2024 This contradiction wouldn’t really matter if Horizon was a great movie that transcended political differences. —

Armond White, National Review, 3 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for transcend

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'transcend.' 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 transcendere to climb across, transcend, from trans- + scandere to climb — more at scan

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler

The first known use of transcend was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Transcend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/transcend. Accessed 1 Aug. 2024.

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Kids Definition

transcend

verb

tran·scend tran(t)s-ˈend

: to rise above or go beyond the limits of : exceed

: to be greatly superior to : surpass

Last Updated: 24 Jul 2024 - Updated example sentences

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transcend

verb

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Synonyms

Examples of transcend in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near transcend

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Kids Definition