# sublime

/səˈbɫaɪm/ (US) · /sʌblˈaɪm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sublime
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. awe-inspiring beauty

adjective · CEFR C1 · Literary

so beautiful or grand that it makes you feel deep respect or wonder.

For teachers: of such excellence, grandeur, or beauty as to inspire great admiration and awe.

- The view from the top of the mountain was truly sublime.
- The composer's final symphony achieved a sublime beauty that left the audience in a state of profound silence.

### 2. perfect or excellent

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal

of very high quality; perfect or wonderful.

For teachers: denoting a state of being consummate or perfect; often used in a slightly lighter or more modern sense to mean excellent.

- The chocolate cake we had for dessert was sublime.
- The chef's ability to balance such contrasting flavours was nothing short of sublime.

Teaching tip: In casual conversation, this is often used as a strong synonym for 'delicious' or 'wonderful'.

### 3. extreme or complete

adjective · CEFR C2 · Formal

used to describe a quality that is extreme or total, often in a way that is surprising.

For teachers: used to describe a quality that is extreme, absolute, or unparalleled, often in a negative or ironic context.

- He showed a sublime indifference to the rules of the game.
- There is a sublime arrogance in assuming that the local population would simply accept the new laws without protest.

Usage: Often used before a noun to emphasize a specific trait.

### 4. to change from solid to gas

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to change a substance directly from a solid into a gas without it becoming a liquid first.

For teachers: to convert a substance from a solid state directly into a vapour by heat, and then allow it to solidify again.

- Dry ice will sublime at room temperature.
- In the laboratory, the iodine was heated until it began to sublime, forming a rich purple vapour against the glass.

Usage: Used as both a transitive and intransitive verb in chemical contexts.

Teaching tip: In modern science, 'sublimate' is more common as a verb, but 'sublime' is still technically correct.

### 5. the highest state

noun · CEFR C2 · Academic · Literary

the most beautiful or perfect example of something.

For teachers: the greatest or supreme degree of a quality; that which is awe-inspiring or transcendent.

- The painting is a perfect example of the sublime in romantic art.
- The poet spent his life trying to capture the sublime through his descriptions of the natural world.

Usage: Usually preceded by 'the'.

Teaching tip: This is a key term in 18th-century philosophy and art history.

## Examples

- The view from the mountain top was truly sublime.
- The chef's ability to balance such complex flavors was nothing short of sublime.
- Romantic poets often sought the sublime in nature, believing that the overwhelming power of a storm or a vast canyon could connect the human soul to the infinite.

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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.