ShortMeaning, pronunciation & vowel sounds
Sublime Meaning & Pronunciation
/səˈblaɪm/ · adjective
Sublime describes something of such outstanding excellence, beauty, or grandeur that it inspires awe.
How to say it
How to pronounce sublime
sublime
The vowel breakdown
Vowel sounds in sublime
Each vowel sound below shows the letters that spell it, the sound they make, and the phonics pattern behind it.
In the unstressed first syllable, u is reduced to the neutral /ə/ sound, as in about.
The e at the end is silent and makes the i say its own name, as in time and smile.
Practise this pattern →Consonant notes
A consonant blend: keep both sounds, /b/ then /l/. Learn more →
Definition
What does sublime mean?
Of very high excellence, beauty, or grandeur; inspiring awe.
“The view from the mountain summit was sublime.”
Complete or extreme, often used ironically.
“She treated the warning with sublime indifference.”
Word forms: sublime · sublimely (adverb) · sublimity (noun)
In science, sublime is also a verb: a substance sublimes when it changes directly from a solid to a gas, as dry ice does.
Where it comes from
Origin of sublime
Sublime comes from Latin sublimis, meaning lofty or uplifted.
Similar words
Frequently asked questions
What does sublime mean?
Sublime means of very high excellence, beauty, or grandeur, so impressive that it inspires awe.
How do you pronounce sublime?
Sublime is pronounced /səˈblaɪm/, or suh-BLYME, with the stress on the second syllable. It rhymes with time.
What does sublime mean in chemistry?
To sublime is to change directly from a solid to a gas without becoming a liquid first, as dry ice does.
What vowel sounds are in sublime?
Sublime has a weak schwa sound in the first syllable and a long I sound, made by the silent e, in the second.