Definition of peaknext

peak

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun peak differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of peak are acme, apex, climax, culmination, pinnacle, and summit. While all these words mean "the highest point attained or attainable," peak suggests the highest among other high points.

an artist working at the peak of her powers

When could acme be used to replace peak?

Although the words acme and peak have much in common, acme implies a level of quality representing the perfection of a thing.

a statue that was once deemed the acme of beauty

Where would apex be a reasonable alternative to peak?

The words apex and peak can be used in similar contexts, but apex implies the point where all ascending lines converge.

the apex of Dutch culture

When might climax be a better fit than peak?

While in some cases nearly identical to peak, climax implies the highest point in an ascending series.

the war was the climax to a series of hostile actions

When is culmination a more appropriate choice than peak?

While the synonyms culmination and peak are close in meaning, culmination suggests the outcome of a growth or development representing an attained objective.

the culmination of years of effort

When is it sensible to use pinnacle instead of peak?

The words pinnacle and peak are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, pinnacle suggests a dizzying and often insecure height.

the pinnacle of worldly success

In what contexts can summit take the place of peak?

In some situations, the words summit and peak are roughly equivalent. However, summit implies the topmost level attainable.

at the summit of the Victorian social scene

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of peak
Noun
The design, with its basque waist, was unmistakably reminiscent of the dress silhouettes from the Rococo and Victorian eras—an aesthetic that is reaching its peak again this year. Kelly Niesen, Glamour, 24 July 2026 At the peak of its mania back in 2017, Rick and Morty cultivated a fanbase that, to put it kindly, was a bit much. Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 24 July 2026
Verb
Human use of those channels to work with your brand will likely peak soon. Nirmal Mukhi, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026 Lions are the classic morning people who peak early in the day. Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 22 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for peak
Recent Examples of Synonyms for peak
Noun
  • Chuanjun warned that heavy rain and extreme weather conditions could put additional areas alongside the mountain near the initial landslide at risk of collapsing.
    Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 19 July 2026
  • Thomas, for so many years the understudy to his Team Sky teammate Froome, finally got his moment in the sun, winning back-to-back mountain stages, including stage 12 to Alpe d’Huez, to win the race overall.
    Chris Marshall-Bell, New York Times, 19 July 2026
Noun
  • Fourteen years earlier, his debut feature, Ossessione, had effectively birthed Italian neorealism, and Visconti had followed it up with La Terra Trema (1948), one of the absolute pinnacles of the movement.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 24 July 2026
  • The same cannot be said of GB1, the new brand name for Ainslie’s fourth assault on the America’s Cup, regarded as the pinnacle of international sailing.
    Andrew Rice, New York Times, 24 July 2026
Noun
  • This Adidas Bucket Hat has the advantages of a full brim, UPF 50 sun protection, and an adjustable drawstring, which helps on windy days or open-air rides like bikes, boats, and tour buses.
    Brandon Schultz, Travel + Leisure, 14 July 2026
  • The Office Romance star paired the beige ensemble with a cognac leather-and-linen handbag by the designer, a pair of diamond huggie earrings, and a hemp-blend hat with an impressive, wide brim.
    Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 12 July 2026
Verb
  • Following alt-rock’s aughties surge, a slew of bands like Mastodon, the Mars Volta, and Coheed & Cambria became main-stage festival acts by adapting modern hard rock conventions into over-the-top mutations.
    Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 19 July 2026
  • As new wealth moves in—and demand for Miami real estate continues to surge—its housing market has become increasingly out of reach for most buyers.
    Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 19 July 2026
Noun
  • Civilizations could have risen to their zenith and crumbled in the time our micrometeoroid spent traversing the unfeeling expanse of interplanetary space, but its demise lasted but a fraction of a second.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 21 July 2026
  • There was a time when the odd chart slot and a feature on the soundtrack of the latest FIFA game would mark the mainstream zenith of a breakthrough junglist.
    Will Pritchard, Pitchfork, 20 July 2026
Verb
  • Enrollment in private schools in Miami-Dade County — religious and non-religious — has increased from about 70,000 to 92,000 the past two decades, according to reporting by the Miami Herald.
    Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 25 July 2026
  • Demolishing folding tables has become so popular — and worrisome — at Bills games that retail prices of tables in Western New York have been known to increase during football season.
    Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 25 July 2026
Noun
  • In the fall, the flashy Waldorf Astoria Hotel & Residences, designed like a stack of nine askew cubes, will soar past to its final height of 1,049 feet.
    Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 21 July 2026
  • By the time Phaedra’s birthday dinner rolls around, the sound of Porsha sharpening her knives reaches its height.
    Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 20 July 2026
Verb
  • Forecasters warned that some major rivers were expected to crest over the weekend.
    Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 20 July 2026
  • So with Splash, Howard had a chance to crest into the mainstream, and Hanks had his first starring role in a movie.
    Rance Collins, Entertainment Weekly, 10 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Peak.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/peak. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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