What does sublime mean?
Word: Sublime
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Sublime means so beautiful or excellent that it fills you with wonder.
Synonyms: splendid
How do you spell sublime?
Syllables: sub - lime
Tricky part: The close of the word has a long i sound, helped by a silent e. Pupils write sublyme, sublim or subleme.
Watch out for: sublyme, sublim, subleme
Memory tip: A green lime has that same long i and silent e, and it sits right at the close of the word.
Idioms and Phrases
- from the sublime to the ridiculous: going from something excellent to something silly. Example: "The concert went from the sublime to the ridiculous when a dog joined in the final song."
Sublime in a sentence
Example 1: The sunrise over the Kanchenjunga range was sublime.
Example 2: My grandmother makes sublime gulab jamun for every family gathering.
Example 3: The violinist played the slow movement with sublime tenderness.
Fun Fact
The word comes from a Latin word meaning lifted up high, and people still use it for things that seem to raise them above the everyday.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
One letter in this word is not needed. Find it:
subblime
a) b
b) s
c) l
d) m
Show answer
a) b. This word has no double letters at all.
Mingle-Mangle
The sentence contains a jumbled word. Choose the word it hides:
The view from the top of the tea garden was simply isumebl.
a) sublime
b) supreme
c) subtle
d) superb
Show answer
a) sublime. Look for an l, an i and an m together: that combination fits one option alone.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word sublime as used in the sentence:
The pianist gave a sublime performance at the town hall last night.
a) mediocre
b) glorious
c) magnificent
d) superior
Show answer
a) mediocre. A mediocre performance is only average, far from the wonder of this one.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is correct. Choose the meaning of that word.
1. radiunt 2. sublime 3. exquisit 4. wunderous
a) so great that it lifts the spirit
b) extremely fine and delicate
c) strangely beautiful and amazing
d) shining brightly
Show answer
a) so great that it lifts the spirit. The misspelt words should be exquisite, radiant and wondrous.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. After tasting the mango kulfi, a food critic wrote one word: sublime. What does she think of it?
a) It is too sweet to finish in one go
b) It is about as good as kulfi can be
c) It is cheaper than it looks on the menu
d) It is pleasant but rather ordinary
Show answer
b) It is about as good as kulfi can be
2. Which sight would most people call sublime?
a) a dripping tap in the bathroom
b) a slow queue at the ticket counter
c) a dull bus ride to the market
d) a rainbow over a still mountain lake
Show answer
d) a rainbow over a still mountain lake
