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peak

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun peak differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of peak are acme, apex, climax, culmination, pinnacle, and summit. While all these words mean "the highest point attained or attainable," peak suggests the highest among other high points.

an artist working at the peak of her powers

When could acme be used to replace peak?

Although the words acme and peak have much in common, acme implies a level of quality representing the perfection of a thing.

a statue that was once deemed the acme of beauty

Where would apex be a reasonable alternative to peak?

The words apex and peak can be used in similar contexts, but apex implies the point where all ascending lines converge.

the apex of Dutch culture

When might climax be a better fit than peak?

While in some cases nearly identical to peak, climax implies the highest point in an ascending series.

the war was the climax to a series of hostile actions

When is culmination a more appropriate choice than peak?

While the synonyms culmination and peak are close in meaning, culmination suggests the outcome of a growth or development representing an attained objective.

the culmination of years of effort

When is it sensible to use pinnacle instead of peak?

The words pinnacle and peak are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, pinnacle suggests a dizzying and often insecure height.

the pinnacle of worldly success

In what contexts can summit take the place of peak?

In some situations, the words summit and peak are roughly equivalent. However, summit implies the topmost level attainable.

at the summit of the Victorian social scene

Examples of peak in a Sentence

These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Lush landscapes, beautiful beaches, delicious cuisine, and a unique cultural heritage all make Hawaii a must-visit destination for many travelers, but a trip to Hawaii can come with a hefty price tag — especially during peak travel seasons. Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 1 Nov. 2024 Kurt Hammel, a manager at the ski school, says Deer Valley has one of the highest percentages anywhere of people taking ski school lessons on peak days. Stacey Lastoe, Robb Report, 31 Oct. 2024
Verb
Prices for plane tickets increase in November before peaking in December as consumer demand shifts to holiday travel, Hopper's lead economist Hayley Berg said. Michael Salerno, The Arizona Republic, 1 Nov. 2024 The number of beds funded per day peaked around 55,000 during the Trump administration. Nick Penzenstadler, USA TODAY, 31 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for peak 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for peak
Noun
  • Rousseau moved to the mountains of North Carolina, the start of an extended period of wandering.
    Judith Graham, USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2024
  • Their crisp rendering builds upon Denver’s version, creating an open-hearted, freewheeling take on this timeless ode to the picturesque mountains of Colorado.
    Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 28 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • Western Electric pioneered tube technology and the 300B remains the pinnacle of audio quality to this day despite first being launched in 1938.
    Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
  • She’s reached the pinnacle of Hot Country Songs chart multiple times with the song.
    Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 1 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • As McNary kissed White, a milliner who runs the designer hat brand, Mill & Habs, and turned her hat towards the camera, sonogram images could be seen tucked into the brim of the hat.
    Hannah Sacks, People.com, 4 Nov. 2024
  • There’s no clear look at the driver, only a strange silhouette that appears to show the wide brim of a hat and perhaps a piece of fabric jutting up from the arm.
    Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • Too much light in the evening — that extra hour from daylight saving time — delays that surge and the cycle gets out of sync.
    ASSOCIATED PRESS, TIME, 27 Oct. 2024
  • Shares of Tesla surged 21% on Thursday, marking the stock's biggest single-day gain since May 2013.
    Benzinga, Detroit Free Press, 26 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • Comments As sure as the potato sack not being the right mask for Jason Voorhees in Friday the 13th: Part 2 (1981), slasher movies reached their zenith in the 1980s.
    Steven Thrash, EW.com, 19 Oct. 2024
  • The starkness of the OPM cataclysm being tracked by Validated Insights can only be appreciated by having seen the size and dominance of these companies at their zenith.
    Derek Newton, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • For women in their thirties, the absolute risk increased from one in 204 to 1.4 in 204.
    Dominique Fluker, Essence, 28 Oct. 2024
  • So far this year, the company’s stock has increased 15% compared to a 26% increase at other U.S. banks tracked over the same period by the S&P U.S. Banks Index.
    Michael del Castillo, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • In a tit-for-tat response, McLaren levied accusations against Red Bull about adjustments to the underbody height of their cars.
    David Faris, Newsweek, 2 Nov. 2024
  • Azimuth tweaking is available at the headshell, and precise height adjustment is undertaken at the base of the arm.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • The Swannanoa River crested at Biltmore Village at 26.1 feet, well over the flood stage of 10 feet and breaking the record of 20.7 feet set in the Great Flood of 1916.
    Alan Wooten | The Center Square, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 15 Oct. 2024
  • The Hillsborough River near Zephyrhills crested at 17.14 feet early Friday, marking its highest flood level on record.
    Denise Chow, NBC News, 13 Oct. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near peak

Cite this Entry

“Peak.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/peak. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on peak

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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