sublimate

American  

[suhb-luh-meyt, suhb-luh-mit, -meyt] / ˈsʌb ləˌmeɪt, ˈsʌb lə mɪt, -ˌmeɪt /

verb (used with object)

sublimated, sublimating

1. Psychology. to divert the energy of (a sexual or other biological impulse) from its immediate goal to one of a more acceptable social, moral, or aesthetic nature or use.

2. Chemistry.

   1. to sublime (a solid substance); extract by this process.

   2. to refine or purify (a substance).

3. to make nobler or purer.

   To read about great men sublimates ambition.

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verb (used without object)

sublimated, sublimating

1. to become sublimated; undergo sublimation.

noun

1. Chemistry. the crystals, deposit, or material obtained when a substance is sublimated.

adjective

1. purified or exalted; sublimated.

sublimate British  

/ ˈsʌblɪˌmeɪt, ˈsʌbləməbəl /

verb

1. psychol to direct the energy of (a primitive impulse, esp a sexual one) into activities that are considered to be socially more acceptable

2. (tr) to make purer; refine

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noun

1. chem the material obtained when a substance is sublimed

adjective

1. exalted or purified

Other Word Forms

• desublimate verb (used with object)
• resublimate verb (used with object)
• sublimable adjective
• sublimableness noun
• sublimation noun
• supersublimated adjective
• unsublimated adjective

Etymology

Origin of sublimate

1425–75; late Middle English: exalted, sublimated < Latin sublīmātus (past participle of sublīmāre to elevate), equivalent to sublīm ( is ) sublime + -ātus -ate ¹

Example Sentences

It almost feels like some kind of test, where you are forced to sublimate your wishes and, perhaps, your self respect.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 5, 2026

This refusenik sensibility is threaded through the entire series, and any attempt by the characters to sublimate themselves to social norms fizzled quickly and often in grand fashion.

From New York Times • May 12, 2023

“You have to sublimate your own ego to some extent.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 22, 2023

Rama says in a class she is teaching that the power of narrative is to sublimate reality.

From Salon • Jan. 9, 2023

Structures not unlike these have been artificially induced by exposure to particular lights, and also by painting spots with dilute corrosive sublimate, indicating that poisons may impel the epidermis cells to grow out abnormally.

From Disease in Plants by Ward, H. Marshall

Related Words

• repress