supreme

Meanings

1. 1adjectivebefore a noun

   Higher in rank, power, or authority than any other.

   Grammar: Usually before a noun: the supreme leader, the supreme court.

   Patterns

   • supreme commander
   • supreme court

   The general was the supreme commander of the allied forces.

   The case went to the Supreme Court.

   The king held supreme power in the land.

2. 2adjectivebefore a noun

   Greatest in degree or quality; as strong as can be.

   Grammar: Used for strong emphasis: supreme effort, supreme confidence.

   Patterns

   • supreme effort
   • supreme confidence

   She faced the challenge with supreme confidence.

   It took supreme effort to finish the climb.

   He showed supreme skill on the ice.

Common combinations

Supreme Court

The Supreme Court ruled on the law.

supreme leader

The supreme leader addressed the nation.

supreme effort

With one supreme effort, she lifted the bar.

reign supreme

Rock music reigned supreme in the 1970s.

supreme sacrifice

The memorial honors those who made the supreme sacrifice.

supreme being

Many religions believe in a supreme being.

Synonyms and how they differ

highest

Highest is the plain word for top rank, while supreme adds a note of authority.

ultimate

Ultimate stresses being the final or most extreme, whereas supreme stresses being the greatest.

paramount

Paramount means most important, which fits concerns or priorities more than rulers.

sovereign

Sovereign focuses on independent power, usually of a state or ruler.

Opposites

Word family

supremely adverb

to the highest degree

supremacy noun

the state of being most powerful

supremacist noun

a person who believes one group is superior

supremo noun

a person in overall charge

Commonly confused: supreme or extreme?

Practice

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