Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

culmination

noun cul·mi·na·tion \ ˌkəl-mə-ˈnā-shən \
|Updated on: 13 Jun 2018

Definition of culmination

1 : the action of culminating
2 : culminating position : climax
  • the culmination of a brilliant career
  • the culmination of years of research

See culmination defined for English-language learners

Examples of culmination in a Sentence

  1. This study is the culmination of years of research.

  2. an acting performance that was seen as the culmination of a brilliant career on the stage

Recent Examples of culmination from the Web

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'culmination.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of culmination

see culminate

culmination Synonyms

Synonyms

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

Antonyms

bottom, nadir, rock bottom;

Near Antonyms

abyss, base, foot;

minimum;

Related Words

bloom, blossom, flood tide, flower, glory, heyday, prime;

cap, ceiling, roof;

extreme, extremity, tip, vertex;

high, highlight, highspot;

Synonym Discussion of 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

CULMINATION Defined for English Language Learners

culmination

noun

Definition of culmination for English Language Learners

  • : the end or final result of something

Learn More about culmination

  1. See words that rhyme with culmination Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for culmination Spanish Central: Translation of culmination Nglish: Translation of culmination for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of culmination for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up culmination? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

notorious

play

widely and unfavorably known

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. asylum 'protection from arrest and extradition given especially to political refugees'

  2. insubordinate 'disobedient to authority'

  3. promulgate 'to make known by open declaration'

  4. epochal 'momentous or unparalleled'

  5. clemency 'merciful treatment of someone who could be given harsh punishment'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

culmination

Test Your Vocabulary

Words for Summer: A Quiz

  • a-closeup-of-a-sunflower
  • Which of the following words means “of or relating to summer”?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Citation

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games