culmination

noun

cul·​mi·​na·​tion ˌkəl-mə-ˈnā-shən 

1

: the action of culminating

2

: culminating position : climax

the culmination of a brilliant career

the culmination of years of research

Synonyms

• acme
• apex
• apogee
• capstone
• climax
• crescendo
• crest
• crown
• head
• height
• high noon
• high-water mark
• meridian
• ne plus ultra
• noon
• noontime
• peak
• pinnacle
• sum
• summit
• tip-top
• top
• zenith

Choose the Right Synonym for culmination

summit, peak, pinnacle, climax, apex, acme, culmination mean the highest point attained or attainable.

summit implies the topmost level attainable.

at the summit of the Victorian social scene

peak suggests the highest among other high points.

an artist working at the peak of her powers

pinnacle suggests a dizzying and often insecure height.

the pinnacle of worldly success

climax implies the highest point in an ascending series.

the war was the climax to a series of hostile actions

apex implies the point where all ascending lines converge.

the apex of Dutch culture

acme implies a level of quality representing the perfection of a thing.

a statue that was once deemed the acme of beauty

culmination suggests the outcome of a growth or development representing an attained objective.

the culmination of years of effort

Examples of culmination in a Sentence

This study is the culmination of years of research.

an acting performance that was seen as the culmination of a brilliant career on the stage

Recent Examples on the Web

Here was the kind of culmination of this school nerd’s dream to go. —Christy Piña, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Oct. 2024

The potential return of the Tasmanian tiger will be a culmination of efforts from scientists at the University of Melbourne, the technological prowess of Colossal Biosciences and the genetic contributions of a pickled 110-year old thylacine head. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024

Clinton was seen by many of her supporters as the culmination of the women’s suffrage movement. —Andrew Zucker, Glamour, 30 Oct. 2024

Its current state is a culmination of many problems—from red tape impeding business to lackluster demand recovery stunting the growth of its key industries. —Samuel Burke, Fortune Europe, 29 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see culminate

First Known Use

1633, in the meaning defined at sense 1