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

These closing arguments were the culmination of six years of litigation on the key question in the 9/11 case: Does torture matter in the pursuit of justice in the military commissions? —Lisa Hajjar, The Conversation, 24 Jan. 2025

The album was a culmination of years of hard work, intentional growth, and the trust SZA had built with her core fanbase. —Sughnen Yongo, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025

This festival will be the culmination of a weekend of rehearsals, lectures and worship at the Village Church. —Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Jan. 2025

The pardons are a culmination of Trump's effort to rewrite the history of an unprecedented assault on the seat of American democracy, and pave the way for the release of the leaders of far-right extremist groups and people found guilty of violently attacking police officers. —Kristen Waggoner, Newsweek, 21 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see culminate

First Known Use

1633, in the meaning defined at sense 1