Definition of summitnext

summit

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun summit differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of summit are acme, apex, climax, culmination, peak, and pinnacle. While all these words mean "the highest point attained or attainable," summit implies the topmost level attainable.

at the summit of the Victorian social scene

When could acme be used to replace summit?

The words acme and summit are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, acme implies a level of quality representing the perfection of a thing.

a statue that was once deemed the acme of beauty

When might apex be a better fit than summit?

In some situations, the words apex and summit are roughly equivalent. However, apex implies the point where all ascending lines converge.

the apex of Dutch culture

When can climax be used instead of summit?

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

the war was the climax to a series of hostile actions

When would culmination be a good substitute for summit?

Although the words culmination and summit have much in common, 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 peak instead of summit?

While the synonyms peak and summit are close in meaning, peak suggests the highest among other high points.

an artist working at the peak of her powers

Where would pinnacle be a reasonable alternative to summit?

The synonyms pinnacle and summit are sometimes interchangeable, but pinnacle suggests a dizzying and often insecure height.

the pinnacle of worldly success

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 summit
Noun
Kyiv has hoped the talks could allow a maritime and energy ceasefire and, eventually, for a peace summit at the leaders' level. — Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Nov. 2026 The annual summit follows a year of deadly floods, heat waves and other disasters. — Suzan Fraser, Los Angeles Times, 11 Nov. 2026
Verb
Tenzing Norgay was the first person to summit Mount Everest alongside Edmund Hillary. — Marta Balaga, Variety, 24 Sep. 2026 China’s trade growth accelerated last month, but data showing imports fell short of analysts’ expectations will likely add to calls for Beijing to rebalance its economy ahead of a high-stakes leaders summit with the US this month. — Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for summit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for summit
Noun
  • Yes, that was pretty much the pinnacle for Toney, whose erratic play and behavior led to Chiefs declining his fifth-year option in 2024.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 13 Nov. 2026
  • Haute couture is accessible to only a very small clientele, but it is regarded as the pinnacle of fashion.
    — Alicja Zelazko, Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Shilling and his team’s report was published nearly a week after two coyotes were recorded trying to ascend the uncompleted Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, which covers 10 lanes of traffic over the 101 Freeway.
    — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 11 Nov. 2026
  • But before ascending the caffeine mountaintop, the business was a humble roadside operation.
    — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • To prevent the seed heads from reseeding, do a preliminary light prune by trimming off the tops in fall, then cut the clumps back fully in spring.
    — The Spruce, The Spruce, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Detroit had tarps affixed to the top of its benches to protect players from the sun, a move not usually undertaken by visiting teams in November.
    — Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 8 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • The answer lies in its ability to move the sound-emitting locations in real time and scale the technology to different display sizes.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 14 Nov. 2026
  • The project is part of a wider expansion worth more than $74 billion across Arizona and Texas as the company scales up its computing infrastructure.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 13 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • Two years later — Cook’s commercial zenith — Darryl was making deposits as flagrant as $780,000 and $995,000.
    — Josh Eells, Rolling Stone, 2 Nov. 2026
  • But keeping a brand vibrant and relevant, IRL storytelling and experiences have become more and more elaborate, reaching a zenith with the Prada Galleria complex the brand unveiled during Milan Fashion Week last September.
    — Miles Socha, Footwear News, 30 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Mitchell has surmounted these obstacles, in part, by continuing to build out her array of alliances.
    — Doug Bock Clark, ProPublica, 28 Oct. 2026
  • To surmount the issue, Apple routed a flexible graphite pipe through the hinge itself to transfer heat between the two halves, thereby increasing the surface area available for heat dissipation.
    — Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 12 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Total snow accumulations up to a foot, with up to 2 feet at the highest peaks.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 12 Nov. 2026
  • Customers help balance grid demand Oracle’s Opower platform uses behavioral demand response (BDR) and peak-time rebate (PTR) programs.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 12 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • The navy blazer is another key item, particularly double breasted with gold buttons.
    — Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 23 June 2026
  • Place the chicken in front of you, breast up, with the neck pointing away from you.
    — Peter Barrett, Outside Online, 9 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Summit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/summit. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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