supreme
/suˈpriːm/ (bre, ipa) · /suˈpriːm/ (ame, ipa) · /sə-ˈprēm sü-/ (ame, mw)
supreme — adjective
- supremepositive
- more supremecomparative
- most supremesuperlative
1. having the highest position of power, authority, or importance within a system,
having the highest position of power, authority, or importance within a system, government, or organisation.
The Supreme Court ruled that the law violated citizens' rights.
collocation: Supreme Court (official title, always capitalised)
General Quan served as the supreme commander during the military campaign.
collocation: supreme commander
Adina argued that the constitution is the supreme law of the land.
The queen held supreme authority over all colonial territories.
Minho believed that justice should be the supreme value in any legal system.
- subordinate
lower in rank or position
- inferior
lower in status or quality
文法句型
supreme + noun
be + supreme
用法筆記
Often capitalised in official titles (the Supreme Court, the Supreme Leader). Frequently used attributively before the noun it modifies.
常見錯誤
2. to the highest possible degree; extremely great in amount, level, or quality — u
to the highest possible degree; extremely great in amount, level, or quality — used to emphasise the strength of a quality or action.
The rescue team made a supreme effort to reach the trapped hikers before dark.
collocation: supreme effort
Hoa spoke with supreme confidence during her job interview at the hospital.
Madison showed supreme skill in arranging the flowers for the wedding ceremony.
It took supreme patience for Bilal to teach his younger sister how to read.
The chef prepared the banquet with supreme attention to every small detail.
- utmost
similar intensity, common in 'utmost importance', 'do one's utmost'
- extreme
can have negative connotations (extreme heat, extreme views)
- exceptional
focuses on being unusually good rather than at the highest level
文法句型
supreme + noun of quality
用法筆記
Strong adjective — do not use 'more supreme' or 'most supreme'. Unlike sense 1, this sense does not appear in titles. Commonly paired with nouns like effort, confidence, skill, patience, care.
常見錯誤
3. representing the highest or final point that cannot be exceeded — used especiall
representing the highest or final point that cannot be exceeded — used especially for life-or-death matters, final limits, or the greatest possible version of something.
The soldier made the supreme sacrifice by giving his life to save his comrades.
collocation: supreme sacrifice (giving one's life)
Crossing the finish line was the supreme moment of Amira's running career.
collocation: supreme moment
After months of climbing, the summit was Asher and his team's supreme achievement.
The final match was the supreme test of everything Romi had trained for.
- ultimate
more common in everyday use; similar meaning of final endpoint
- definitive
emphasises finality and authority; 'the definitive answer'
- paramount
overlapping for importance, but lacks the finality of 'supreme'
- initial
first, at the beginning
- preliminary
coming before the main event
文法句型
supreme + noun (serious contexts)
用法筆記
Used in serious, often life-or-death contexts. 'Supreme sacrifice' is a fixed expression meaning death for a cause. Distinguish from sense 2: sense 3 carries a sense of finality and is less about intensity and more about being the ultimate point beyond which nothing further exists.