culminate

verb

cul·​mi·​nate ˈkəl-mə-ˌnāt 

culminated; culminating

intransitive verb

1

of a celestial body : to reach its highest altitude

During the summer solstice, the sun culminates over the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere.

also : to be directly overhead

2

a

: to rise to or form a summit

… enormous waves culminated and fell with the report of thunder.

—Frederick Marryat

b

: to reach the highest or a climactic or decisive point

Her long acting career culminated when she won the Oscar.

transitive verb

: to bring to a head or to the highest point

The contract culminated weeks of negotiations.

Did you know?

When a star or other heavenly body culminates, it reaches its highest point above the horizon from the vantage point of an observer on the ground. Culminate was drawn from Medieval Latin culminare, meaning "to crown," specifically for this astronomical application. Its ultimate root is Latin culmen, meaning "top." Today, the word’s typical context is less lofty: it can mean “to reach a climactic point,” as in “a long career culminating in a prestigious award,” but it can also simply mean "to reach the end of something,” as in “a sentence culminating in a period.”

Synonyms

• cap (off)
• climax
• crown

Examples of culminate in a Sentence

A bitter feud culminated months of tension.

culminated the school year with a trip to New York

Recent Examples on the Web

For a more condensed version of this, the Heritage Explorer Activity Package is a quicker day trip to the distillery that culminates back at the hotel for a culinary pairing experience at Park Hyatt Niseko’s Kappo-style Robata restaurant. —Jillian Dara, Forbes, 23 Sep. 2024

Investigators said an argument on social media led to a real-life confrontation outside a house on Archer Court that culminated in the shooting on Aug. 25. —Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 23 Sep. 2024

With 2:16 remaining, Sanders helped orchestrate a magical drive which culminated in the game going to overtime following the Hail Mary touchdown to Wester. —Ben Morse, CNN, 22 Sep. 2024

Epstein waited until the final year of his five-year deal to get a five-year extension in September 2016, as the Cubs were about to enter a postseason that would culminate in their first championship since 1908. —Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin culminatus, past participle of culminare, from Late Latin, to crown, from Latin culmin-, culmen top — more at hill

First Known Use

1647, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

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Kids Definition

culminate

verb

cul·​mi·​nate ˈkəl-mə-ˌnāt 

culminated; culminating

: to reach the highest point

culmination

ˌkəl-mə-ˈnā-shən

noun