culmination

noun

cul·​mi·​na·​tion ˌkəl-mə-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce culmination (audio)
Synonyms of culmination
1
: the action of culminating
2
: culminating position : climax
the culmination of a brilliant career
the culmination of years of research

Synonyms of culmination

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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
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.
The culmination of a $4 billion project, the observatory is now on its way to a distant orbit beyond the moon. — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026 This is the big Issa-Paul Baker episode of the season, the culmination of a few episodes of awkwardness. — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026 The trial was the culmination of a yearslong investigation that involved police and an investigating judge interviewing more than 30 witnesses, most of them in Rwanda. — ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026 Yet, the culmination of her career, ironically, came back to family, with law itself. — Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for culmination

Word History

Etymology

see culminate

First Known Use

1633, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of culmination was in 1633

Rhymes for culmination

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Browse Nearby Words

culminate
culmination
culotte
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Cite this Entry

“Culmination.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/culmination. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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