Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Higher in rank, status, or quality: Being of greater importance, authority, or excellence compared to something else.
   • Better than average or than something else: Of a higher standard or greater degree.
   • Situated above or higher: Placed over or in a higher position.
   • Not influenced or affected by something; showing a feeling of being better than others: Often implying arrogance or condescension.

2. Noun:

   • A person of higher rank, status, or quality: Someone who holds a higher position, especially in a hierarchy.
   • The head of a religious community: Such as a monastery or convent.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • She is a superior officer in the army. (She holds a higher rank.)
  • This wine is of superior quality. (This wine is of better quality.)
  • He felt superior to his colleagues. (He considered himself better than his colleagues.)
  • The superior planets orbit farther from the sun. (These planets are situated beyond Earth's orbit.)

• Noun:

  • You must report this to your superior immediately. (You must tell your person of higher rank.)
  • The Father Superior leads the monastery. (The head of the religious community leads it.)

Advanced Usage

• "rise superior to": To not be affected or defeated by something difficult.
  • She rose superior to all the challenges. (She overcame all the challenges.)
• "superior to": Better than; not subject to.
  • This model is superior to the old one in every way. (This model is better.)
  • He is superior to petty jealousy. (He is not influenced by it.)

Variants and Related Words

• Superiority (n): The state of being superior.
  • The team's superiority was evident.
• Superiorly (adv): In a superior manner.
  • He performed superiorly.

Synonyms

• Adjective: Higher, better, greater, excellent, paramount.
• Noun: Senior, boss, manager, chief, leader.

Antonyms

• Adjective: Inferior, lower, worse, subordinate.
• Noun: Subordinate, inferior, junior.

Related Phrases/Idioms

• "Superior air/attitude": An arrogant or condescending manner.
  • He spoke with a superior air, which annoyed everyone.
• "Superior court": (Legal term) A court of general jurisdiction, higher than a lower court.

Adjective

1. (often followed by `to') above being affected or influenced by
   • he is superior to fear
   • an ignited firework proceeds superior to circumstances until its blazing vitality fades
2. having a higher rank
   • superior officer
3. having an orbit farther from the sun than the Earth's orbit
   • Mars and Jupiter are the closest in of the superior planets
4. written or printed above and to one side of another character
5. (sometimes followed by `to') not subject to or influenced by
   • overcome by a superior opponent
   • trust magnates who felt themselves superior to law
6. of or characteristic of high rank or importance
   • a superior ruler
7. of high or superior quality or performance
   • superior wisdom derived from experience
   • superior math students

Noun

1. a character or symbol set or printed or written above and immediately to one side of another character
2. a town in northwest Wisconsin on Lake Superior across from Duluth
3. the largest freshwater lake in the world; the deepest of the Great Lakes
4. a combatant who is able to defeat rivals
5. the head of a religious community
6. one of greater rank or station or quality