Sublimate

//ˈsʌblɪmeɪt// noun, verb

noun, verb ·Common ·High school level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A product obtained by sublimation.
  2. 2
    the product of vaporization of a solid wordnet
Verb
  1. 1
    To heat (a substance) in a container so as to convert it into a gas which then condenses in solid form on cooler parts of the container.; To change (a solid substance) into a gas without breaking down or passing through the liquid state by heating it gently. transitive
  2. 2
    vaporize and then condense right back again wordnet
  3. 3
    To heat (a substance) in a container so as to convert it into a gas which then condenses in solid form on cooler parts of the container.; To change (a substance) from a gas into a solid through sublimation. transitive
  4. 4
    change or cause to change directly from a solid into a vapor without first melting wordnet
  5. 5
    To refine (something) until it disappears or loses all meaning. broadly, figuratively, transitive
Show 12 more definitions
  1. 6
    remove impurities from, increase the concentration of, and separate through the process of distillation wordnet
  2. 7
    To modify (the natural expression of a sexual or primitive instinct) in a socially acceptable manner; to divert the energy of (such an instinct) into some acceptable activity. broadly, figuratively, transitive

    "Foreigners extol the American "energy" […] Basically it is the energy of violence, of free-floating resentment and anxiety unleashed by chronic cultural dislocations which must be, for the most part, ferociously sublimated. This energy has mainly been sublimated into crude materialism and acquisitiveness."

  3. 8
    make more subtle or refined wordnet
  4. 9
    To obtain (something) through, or as if through, sublimation. archaic, broadly, figuratively, transitive
  5. 10
    direct energy or urges into useful activities wordnet
  6. 11
    To purify or refine (a substance). archaic, broadly, figuratively, transitive

    "The precepts of Christianity are […] so apt […] to cleanse and sublimate the more gross and corrupt."

  7. 12
    Synonym of sublime.; To raise (someone) to a high office or status; to dignify, to elevate, to exalt. also, broadly, figuratively, transitive
  8. 13
    Synonym of sublime.; To raise something to a state of excellence; to improve. broadly, figuratively, transitive
  9. 14
    Of a substance: to change from a solid into a gas without passing through the liquid state, with or without being heated. intransitive
  10. 15
    Of a substance: to change from a gas into a solid without passing through the liquid state. intransitive
  11. 16
    To modify the natural expression of a sexual or primitive instinct in a socially acceptable manner; to divert the energy of such an instinct into some acceptable activity. figuratively, intransitive
  12. 17
    Synonym of sublime (“to become higher in quality or status; to improve”). figuratively, intransitive
Adjective
  1. 1
    made pure wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms
sublimepurifysublimeaerateaerifyalluvion

Example

More examples

"Foreigners extol the American "energy" […] Basically it is the energy of violence, of free-floating resentment and anxiety unleashed by chronic cultural dislocations which must be, for the most part, ferociously sublimated. This energy has mainly been sublimated into crude materialism and acquisitiveness."

Etymology

From Middle English sublymate, from Latin sublīmātus, past participle of sublīmāre (“to raise, elevate”).

Related phrases

corrosive sublimatefreeze dry

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.