# nirvana

/nɝˈvɑnə/ (US) · /nɜːvˈɑːnɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/nirvana
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. spiritual enlightenment

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

in some religions, a state of perfect peace where you no longer feel pain or desire.

For teachers: the ultimate state of spiritual enlightenment in Buddhism and Hinduism, characterized by the extinction of individual consciousness and release from the cycle of rebirth.

- The monk spent his entire life meditating in hopes of reaching nirvana.
- In Buddhist philosophy, achieving nirvana represents the final cessation of suffering and the end of the cycle of reincarnation.

### 2. perfect happiness

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a state of great pleasure or a place that feels perfect.

For teachers: a state of supreme bliss, peace, or perfection; often used to describe an ideal situation or environment.

- Sitting on the quiet beach with a good book was absolute nirvana for her.
- For the exhausted hikers, the sight of the luxury hotel at the end of the trail was pure nirvana.

## Examples

- The beach at sunset felt like total nirvana.
- After months of stressful deadlines, sitting in a quiet garden with a book felt like pure nirvana to her.
- While many seek spiritual nirvana through meditative practice, others apply the term more loosely to any situation where physical comfort and mental quietude perfectly align with one's surroundings.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.