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

Carr said the ordinance, which the village has worked on for four to six weeks, is the culmination of over a year’s work on a larger village planning initiative that began in 2024, known as Tinley in Tune. —Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2025

The culmination of the 2025 PGA Tour season is upon us, as the world's best golfers descend upon East Lake for the Tour Championship. —Kendall Capps, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Aug. 2025

The 12-day war in June, which saw the United States join Israel in bombing Iran, was the culmination of four decades of mistrust, antipathy, and confrontation. —Vali Nasr, Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2025

The culmination of his unlikely journey are his appearances at Harvard University, the pinnacle of higher education, attracting the world’s most gifted students and learned instructors. —Anthony Demarco, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 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