crest

1 of 2

noun

ˈkrest 

1

a

: a showy tuft or process on the head of an animal and especially a bird see bird illustration

b

: the plume or identifying emblem worn on a knight's helmet

also : the top of a helmet

c(1)

: a heraldic representation of the crest

(2)

: a heraldic device depicted above the escutcheon (see escutcheon sense 1) but not upon a helmet

(3)

: coat of arms sense 2a

d

: a ridge or prominence on a part of an animal body

2

: something suggesting a crest especially in being an upper prominence, edge, or limit: such as

a

: peak

especially : the top line of a mountain or hill

b

: the ridge of a roof

c

: the top of a wave

3

a

: a high point of an action or process and especially of one that is rhythmic

b

: climax, culmination

at the crest of his fame

crestal

ˈkre-stᵊl 

adjective

crestless

ˈkrest-ləs 

adjective

crest

2 of 2

verb

crested; cresting; crests

transitive verb

1

: to furnish with a crest

also : crown

2

: to reach the crest of

crested the hill and looked around

intransitive verb

: to rise to a crest

waves cresting in the storm

Synonyms

Noun

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

Examples of crest in a Sentence

Noun

at that point the filmmaker was at the crest of his critical acclaim, which included winning an Oscar for best picture

the hiking party reached the crest of the mountain just as it began to thunder

Verb

We crested the hill and looked out around us.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

After two days of watching and worrying, the Connecticut crests at 29 feet on Sunday night, and then begins to retreat. —Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 14 June 2025

Meg’s Corner: Boston Legacy embraces swans Following the reveal of Boston Legacy FC’s new crest Saturday, there’s been no drama (whew) — just a range of solidly positive (or at the very least, neutral) reactions to the badge. —Emily Olsen, New York Times, 10 June 2025

Verb

In the midst of a national recession, with inflation and unemployment cresting above 10 percent, the bill for a decade of wishful economics and willful mismanagement on the part of New York’s political establishment was inexorably coming due. —Rolling Stone, 16 June 2025

The national average crested above $2 per pound for fresh, whole chicken for the first time last year and hit a record high of $2.08 in November. —Claire Malon, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English creste, from Anglo-French, from Latin crista; probably akin to Latin crinis hair

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing crest

• neural crest

Rhymes for crest

• blessed
• blest
• breast
• chest
• dressed
• fest
• gest
• geste
• guessed
• jest
• lest
• messed

Kids Definition

crest

1 of 2 noun

ˈkrest 

1

a

: a showy growth (as of flesh or feathers) on the head of an animal

b

: an emblem or design on a helmet (as of a knight) or over a coat of arms

2

: an upper part, edge, or limit

the crest of a hill

the crest of a wave

crested

ˈkres-təd

adjective

crest

2 of 2 verb

1

: to give a crest to

2

: to reach the crest of

crest the hill

3

: to rise to a crest

sea waves cresting

Medical Definition

crest

noun

ˈkrest 

1

: a showy tuft or process on the head of an animal and especially a bird

2

: a process or prominence on a part of an animal body: as

a

: the upper curve or ridge of the neck of a quadruped (as a horse)

also : the mane borne on such a crest

b

: a ridge especially on a bone

the crest of the tibia

see frontal crest, occipital crest