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

• pinnacle
• zenith
• top
• height
• peak
• climax
• apex

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

This coming year will be the culmination of our yearly gathering in Park City for the Sundance Film Festival. —Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 14 July 2025

In October 1971, the Shah anointed himself as the culmination of 2,500 years of Persian history with an extravagant birthday party for the Persian Empire. —Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 13 July 2025

All In is setting up to be the culmination of Hangman Adam Page’s redemption story. —Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 12 July 2025

If China marks the culmination of this unending fire of expansion, America set the spark, with oil as its most important accelerant. —Bill McKibben, New Yorker, 12 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

see culminate

First Known Use

1633, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for culmination

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation