summit

noun sum·mit \ ˈsə-mət \

Updated on: 20 Apr 2018

Definition of summit

1 : top, apex; especially : the highest point : peak

2 : the topmost level attainable

the summit of human fame

3 a : the highest level of officials; especially : the diplomatic level of heads of government

b : a conference of highest-level officials (such as heads of government)

an economic summit

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Examples of summit in a Sentence

The mountain range has summits over 10,000 feet high.
The climbers failed to reach the summit.
Leaders of several nations attended the economic summit.
A summit on global warming was held that year.

Recent Examples of summit from the Web

Arab leaders met in Saudi Arabia on Sunday for a summit dominated by talk of Syria, though without the participation of Mr. Assad, who was excluded from the Arab League in 2011.

— raja abdulrahim, WSJ, "A Day After U.S. Airstrikes in Syria, Assad Launches New Onslaught Against Rebels," 15 Apr. 2018
Working with the public libraries to promote voter registration and planning to hold a a youth-voting summit.

— karen farkas, cleveland.com, "Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish tells State of the County crowd that he remains optimistic despite some challenges," 11 Apr. 2018
North sophomores participate in summit Four Naperville North High School sophomores recently participated in the Illinois Global Scholars Summit at the University of Illinois.

— michelle mullins, Naperville Sun, "Naperville People in the News," 11 Apr. 2018
Old Style is also using the summit to offer attendees the first taste of a brand-new brew the company is unveiling this summer.

— ryan smith, Chicago Reader, "Food & Drink / Music Local rockers Twin Peaks will get top billing at the Chicago Pizza Summit," 9 Apr. 2018
Steven Beschloss, a media relations director at ASU who works with the Global Sport Institute, expanded on the goals for the summit.

— katherine fitzgerald, azcentral, "Bridging sports and research: a look inside ASU's Global Sport Institute," 3 Apr. 2018
In April 2017, Trump hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping for a summit in Palm Beach County.

— skyler swisher, Sun-Sentinel.com, "President Trump to meet with Japanese prime minister at Mar-a-Lago," 2 Apr. 2018
The trip came days before North and South Korean officials were scheduled to make final preparations for the summit with Mr Moon.

— The Economist, "Kim Jong Un visits China," 28 Mar. 2018
School officials, law enforcement officers and state lawmakers held a summit on Monday morning at the Jefferson County Board of Education offices to talk about what is needed to make schools safer for students.

— trisha powell crain, AL.com, "Hoover students honor shooting victims in alternative to National School Walkout," 13 Mar. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of summit

Middle English somete, from Anglo-French sumet, diminutive of sum top, from Latin summum, neuter of summus highest — more at sum

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First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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summit Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of summit

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

summit

verb

Definition of summit

intransitive verb

1 : to participate in a summit conference

2 : to climb to the summit

summited on May 29

Recent Examples of summit from the Web

This new farm-to-table restaurant, a minute from Beaver Meadows park entrance, is named after early park pioneer Isabella Bird and her friend Jim Nugent, with pictures of Bird summiting Long’s Peak in woolen ladies attire.

— kathryn o’shea-evans, WSJ, "An Insiders’ Guide to the National Parks," 12 Apr. 2018
Two other 7-year-olds have summited Kilimanjaro: Keats Boyd and Cash Callahan, according to the website.

— mary bowerman, USA TODAY, "Texas 7-year-old becomes youngest girl to climb Mount Kilimanjaro," 6 Apr. 2018
The young boy first made headlines by being the youngest climber to summit Mr. Whitney in a single day.

— michelle castillo, CBS News, "8-year-old becomes second youngest to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro," 16 July 2012
This Is Us star summited the highest mountain in Africa this month, traveling on the adventure alongside a group of her closest friends including fiancé Taylor Goldsmith.

— dave quinn, PEOPLE.com, "Mandy Moore Fulfills Dream of Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro with Fiancé Taylor Goldsmith by Her Side," 31 Mar. 2018
Just over 20 days earlier, Jim Whittaker became the first American to summit the mountain solo.

— sheila vilvens, Cincinnati.com, "The year was 1963 when a Walnut Hills High School graduate made history on Mount Everest," 10 Mar. 2018
Playwright may summit up to three pieces (a 10-minute play; one one-act that is 30-60 pages or full-length play that is 60-120 pages; or one radio/podcast play that is 25-30 pages).

— mark rapp, cleveland.com, "Cleveland theater's auditions for March 16 and Beyond: Chagrin Valley Little Theatre seeking directors for 2018-19 Season & More," 16 Mar. 2018
The best-selling author and star of IMAX's Everest Expedition documentary has summited all 14 of the world's tallest peaks—including Everest, without oxygen—and is widely regarded as America's foremost authority on mountaineering.

— nate erickson, Esquire, "A Pro Mountain Climber Told Us He Could Climb Trump's Border Wall," 13 Mar. 2018
Aconcagua posed the most significant challenge to date taking Brennan three attempts to summit.

— sheila vilvens, Cincinnati.com, "Loveland business owner prepares for Mount Everest climb: 'Mind over matter, pushing through it'," 6 Mar. 2018

First Known Use of summit

1972

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

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SUMMIT Defined for English Language Learners

summit

noun

Definition of summit for English Language Learners

: the highest point of a mountain : the top of a mountain
: the highest level
: a meeting or series of meetings between the leaders of two or more governments