verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/tɹæn(t)ˈsɛnd/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɛnd
CMU ARPABET:T R AE0 N S EH1 N D
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
verb
Meaning 1
To pass beyond the limits of something.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
We cannot transcend what we refuse to face.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
To surpass, as in intensity or power; to excel.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
To climb; to mount.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
Examples
lights in the heavens transcending the region of the clouds
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
be superior or better than some standard
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
She exceeded our expectations
She topped her performance of last year
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: exceed, overstep, pass, go past, top
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: excel, stand out, surpass
5
verb
Meaning 5
be greater in scope or size than some standard
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
Their loyalty exceeds their national bonds
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: exceed, surpass
Antonyms: none provided
Narrower terms: overgrow
History
Etymology
From Middle English transcenden, from Old French transcender, from Latin transcendō (“to climb over, step over, surpass, transcend”), from trans (“over”) + scandō (“to climb”); see scan; compare ascend, descend.
Across languages
Translations
33 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
надхвърлям
(nadhvǎrljam)
— to pass beyond the limits of something
Bulgarian:
превишавам
(previšavam)
— to pass beyond the limits of something
Catalan:
ultrapassar
— to pass beyond the limits of something
Catalan:
transcendir
— to pass beyond the limits of something
Chinese Mandarin:
超越
(chāoyuè)
— to pass beyond the limits of something
Czech:
překonat
— to pass beyond the limits of something
Dutch:
overstijgen
— to pass beyond the limits of something
Esperanto:
transcendi
— to pass beyond the limits of something
Finnish:
ylittää
— to pass beyond the limits of something
French:
transcender
— to pass beyond the limits of something
German:
übersteigen
— to pass beyond the limits of something
German:
überschreiten
— to pass beyond the limits of something
Latin:
supero
— to pass beyond the limits of something
Portuguese:
transcender
— to pass beyond the limits of something
Russian:
переступа́ть преде́лы
(perestupátʹ predély)
— to pass beyond the limits of something
Serbo-Croatian:
transcendirati
— to pass beyond the limits of something
Spanish:
trascender
— to pass beyond the limits of something
Spanish:
transcender
— to pass beyond the limits of something
Thai:
ก้าวข้าม
— to pass beyond the limits of something
Turkish:
aşmak
— to pass beyond the limits of something
Ottoman Turkish:
آشمق
(aşmak)
— to pass beyond the limits of something
Bulgarian:
превъзхождам
(prevǎzhoždam)
— to surpass something in intensity or power; to excel
Catalan:
ultrapassar
— to surpass something in intensity or power; to excel
Catalan:
transcendir
— to surpass something in intensity or power; to excel
Chinese Mandarin:
超越
(chāoyuè)
— to surpass something in intensity or power; to excel
Finnish:
ylittää
— to surpass something in intensity or power; to excel
Russian:
превосходи́ть
(prevosxodítʹ)
— to surpass something in intensity or power; to excel
Russian:
превыша́ть
(prevyšátʹ)
— to surpass something in intensity or power; to excel
Serbo-Croatian:
prevazići
— to surpass something in intensity or power; to excel
Serbo-Croatian:
nadići
— to surpass something in intensity or power; to excel
Spanish:
sobrepasar
— to surpass something in intensity or power; to excel
Spanish:
superar
— to surpass something in intensity or power; to excel
Swahili:
shinda
— to surpass something in intensity or power; to excel