pinnacle

1 of 2

noun

pin·​na·​cle ˈpi-ni-kəl 

1

: an upright architectural member generally ending in a small spire and used especially in Gothic construction to give weight especially to a buttress

2

: a structure or formation suggesting a pinnacle

specifically : a lofty peak

3

: the highest point of development or achievement : acme

Illustration of pinnacle

• P pinnacle 1

pinnacle

2 of 2

verb

pinnacled; pinnacling ˈpi-ni-k(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to surmount with a pinnacle

2

: to raise or rear on a pinnacle

Did you know?

Pinnacle is one of several words that aspire to both literal and figurative heights. Others include summit, peak, climax, apex, acme, and culmination. All of these can refer to the highest point of a mountain or structure, or the highest point attained or attainable over a person's lifetime, career, etc. When referring to part of a building, pinnacle describes a projection on top of a tower (as on a Gothic cathedral). The word derives via Anglo-French from Late Latin pinnaculum, meaning "small wing," a diminutive of pinna, meaning "wing or battlement." When used figuratively, pinnacle sometimes implies a dizzying and insecure height, such as that brought on by unexpected fame.

Synonyms

Noun

• zenith
• top
• peak
• culmination
• height
• apex

Choose the Right Synonym for pinnacle

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 pinnacle in a Sentence

Noun

a singer who has reached the pinnacle of success

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Not all of us will reach the pinnacle of being the biggest or the best or the most expensive. —Mark Littler, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025

Not even Netflix could write a storybook ending Throughout the 2023 season, Netflix followed Jones and the Cowboys with the expectation that the Mike McCarthy-led 12-5 squad would finally reach the same pinnacle that the teams of the 1990s did. —Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Aug. 2025

Verb

Again, it isn’t pinnacle AI by any stretch of imagination. —Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025

Mark Margolis, the longtime character actor whose career pinnacled with unforgettable arcs on Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, has died at the age of 83. —Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 4 Aug. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English pinacle, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin pinnaculum small wing, gable, from Latin pinna wing, battlement

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for pinnacle

• binnacle
• clinical
• cynical
• nonclinical
• preclinical
• rabbinical
• subclinical

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

pinnacle

noun

pin·​na·​cle

ˈpin-i-kəl

1

: a slender tower generally coming to a point at the top

2

: a high pointed peak

3

: the highest point of achievement or development