transcend
transcend — verb
1. to go beyond normal limits or boundaries, especially by reaching a higher level
to go beyond normal limits or boundaries, especially by reaching a higher level of thought, feeling, or achievement.
Nora's abstract paintings transcended the traditional landscape styles taught at art school, earning national recognition.
subject (person) + transcended + noun phrase
The memorial's design transcends stone and steel to create a space of quiet reflection.
transcend + noun + to-infinitive
Despite a thirty-year age gap, Lakan and Caleb's friendship transcended their different life stages.
The singer's voice transcended her small body and filled the hall with emotion.
The choir's concert transcended the limits of amateur training, moving the audience to tears.
- exceed
more neutral and measurable; best for numbers, amounts, or concrete limits
- rise above
carries a moral or emotional nuance; often used for overcoming difficulty or pettiness
- go beyond
more literal and less formal; works in everyday contexts where 'transcend' would sound too elevated
- conform to
staying within expected boundaries rather than moving past them
- be limited by
remaining constrained rather than rising above
文法句型
transcend + noun phrase
transcend + noun phrase + to-infinitive
用法筆記
Subject is often an abstract noun (art, music, love, friendship) or a quality (beauty, courage, compassion). The object is typically a limitation: boundaries, differences, barriers, or restrictions. Also used intransitively in formal contexts: 'True art transcends.'
常見錯誤
2. to be noticeably better or more impressive than a previous effort, standard, or
to be noticeably better or more impressive than a previous effort, standard, or rival.
Andrew's final project transcended all expectations and won the top prize.
transcend + expectations
The chef's new recipe transcended anything she had ever created before.
The architect's design transcended every entry in the competition by blending beauty with environmental sensitivity.
The new museum exhibit transcends ordinary displays by encouraging visitors to touch the art.
Hana's second novel transcends her first in both depth of feeling and quality of writing.
- surpass
most direct synonym; slightly more common in everyday evaluative language
- outdo
more personal and competitive, often implying a direct contest with another person
- outshine
more poetic; suggests one performance or quality makes others seem dim in comparison
- excel
intransitive; 'excel at/in' rather than taking a direct object
- fall short of
not reaching the expected or hoped-for standard
- underperform
performing worse than expected or than a rival
文法句型
transcend + noun phrase
transcend + noun phrase + in + (area of excellence)
用法筆記
Object is typically a standard, expectation, or previous achievement: expectations, records, earlier work, rivals. Common in reviews and evaluations of creative or athletic performance. Distinguish from Sense 1: this sense focuses on being better than a comparator, not on breaking a restriction.