sublimate

/ˈsʌblɪmeɪt/

//ˈsʌblɪmeɪt// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"sublimate" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“sublimate” is uncommon English (frequency #95,468 among 54,294 “S” headwords), classed as a verb. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#95,468
frequency rank, English
54,294
“S” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - 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.

Key facts for sublimate
PropertyValue
Headwordsublimate
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ˈsʌblɪmeɪt/
Letters9
Frequency rank#95,468
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “sublimate” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). sublimate lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

sublimate is uncommon English at frequency #95,468 among 54,294 “S” headwords, classed as averb, transcribed /ˈsʌblɪmeɪt/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 12 senses are on record.

The misspelling generator found no plausible variants for sublimate, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, which typically means the spelling is too distinctive to be mistaken for another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English sublymate, from Latin sublīmātus, past participle of sublīmāre (“to raise, elevate”). The correct English form is sublimate, spelled S-U-B-L-I-M-A-T-E.

Definition

  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.
  2. 2
    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.
  3. 3
    To refine (something) until it disappears or loses all meaning.
  4. 4
    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.
  5. 5
    To obtain (something) through, or as if through, sublimation.
  6. 6
    To purify or refine (a substance).
  7. 7
    Synonym of sublime.
  8. 8
    Synonym of sublime.
  9. 9
    Of a substance: to change from a solid into a gas without passing through the liquid state, with or without being heated.
  10. 10
    Of a substance: to change from a gas into a solid without passing through the liquid state.
  11. 11
    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.
  12. 12
    Synonym of sublime (“to become higher in quality or status; to improve”).

Etymology

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

This word in other languages

sublimar(Español)sublimer(Français)sublimieren(Deutsch)sublimar(Português)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "sublimate"?
"sublimate" is spelled S-U-B-L-I-M-A-T-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈsʌblɪmeɪt/.
What does "sublimate" mean?
As a verb, "sublimate" means: 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.
How do you pronounce "sublimate"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "sublimate" is /ˈsʌblɪmeɪt/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "sublimate"?
From Middle English sublymate, from Latin sublīmātus, past participle of sublīmāre (“to raise, elevate”). See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “sublimate”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is S-U-B-L-I-M-A-T-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈsʌblɪmeɪt/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Other uncommon English words near this rank

Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list