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 of culmination

• 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

And the hotel’s refreshed look, with fabrics designed to mimic the fronds and ferns in the lush gardens outside, is the culmination of a five-year update led by interiors expert Lulu Lytle of Soane Britain. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026

The moment is the direct culmination of Rue being kept out of her teenage bedroom and that haunted hallway throughout Season 3. —Ben Travers, IndieWire, 1 June 2026

This is the culmination of Yesterdayneverhappened’s silver-handed experiments throughout search bar. —Tatiana Lee Rodriguez, Pitchfork, 1 June 2026

In the culmination of Sam Levinson’s HBO drama, Alamo kills Rue (Zendaya), an employee who has secretly been working as a DEA informant, by giving her painkillers laced with fentanyl. —Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 1 June 2026

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