Origin: Latin prefix sub-
Sublime has 10 different meanings across 2 categories:
Something sublime.
"The view of the snow-capped peaks from the summit was truly sublime, leaving us breathless in awe."
In plain English: A sublime thing is something so amazing and powerful that it makes you feel completely overwhelmed by its greatness.
"The sublime beauty of the mountain view made everyone stop talking."
To sublimate.
"After his breakup, he chose to sublimately channel all that anger into painting instead of lashing out at friends."
In plain English: To sublime means to turn something into a gas so it disappears directly without becoming liquid first.
"The artist hoped to sublime all her personal pain into a beautiful painting."
of high moral or intellectual value; elevated in nature or style
"an exalted ideal"
"argue in terms of high-flown ideals"
"a noble and lofty concept"
"a grand purpose"
Noble and majestic.
"The climbers stood in awe as they gazed upon the sublime peaks piercing the stormy sky."
In plain English: Sublime describes something so amazing and beautiful that it feels almost too perfect for this world.
"The view from the mountain top was truly sublime."
The word "sublime" entered English through the Middle French verb sublimer, which originally meant to exalt or glorify someone. Its meaning was later expanded in alchemy to describe the process of refining substances by vaporizing them and then cooling the vapors back into a solid state.