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

Taylor, who lives a 10-minute walk from Bondi Beach, said the attack was not an isolated act of violence, but the culmination of years of escalating antisemitism that authorities failed to confront. —Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 15 Dec. 2025

For those who appreciate the artisans who hammered aluminum during the golden age of European coachbuilding, the Spyker represents the culmination of a dying art. —Robert Ross, Robb Report, 12 Dec. 2025

Leonore Van Velzen, EMEC’s operations and maintenance manager, revealed that the demonstration marks the culmination of years of work to seamlessly integrate tidal energy, battery storage, and hydrogen production. —Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 11 Dec. 2025

These shifts have not happened in a vacuum, says Richardson, but are more a culmination of trends over the past five years. —Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 11 Dec. 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