culminate

verb

ˈkəl-mə-ˌnāt How to pronounce culminate (audio)
Definition of culminatenext
as in to complete
to bring to a triumphant conclusion culminated the school year with a trip to New York

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 culminate The same pattern is evident in the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in the 1960s and 1970s, which culminated in the establishment of Islamic regimes and the spread of Islamist extremism. — Mansoor Moaddel, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026 The combined efforts of the departments of Labor, State and Homeland Security, the FBI and the IRS culminated in raids, international extraditions and more than a dozen guilty pleas. — Monika Evstatieva, NPR, 14 Oct. 2026 Zaid’s home is bombed in one intensely melodramatic sequence that culminates in a slow zoom over Zaid cradling his dead wife and child. — Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026 Chase Young recovered, returning the ball to the Saints 34, and the drive culminated with Kendre Miller's 2-yard touchdown run. — ABC News, 11 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for culminate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for culminate
  1. complete
  2. finish
  3. conclude
  4. crown
  5. climax
Verb
  • When asked about potential trust issues, Al Hassan pointed to the government’s history of completing projects and handling emergencies, like the pandemic.
    — Inzamam Rashid, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Add us as a Google Preferred Source Jenni Kayne, the nearly 25-year-old California lifestyle brand, is getting into the denim business, which completes its vision for full-wardrobe dressing.
    — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of complete
Verb
  • Founder Marty Odlin told me the company had not finished developing sensors and methods to reliably measure key properties such as pH and dissolved inorganic carbon.
    — Alec Luhn, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The two sides reworked Norvell’s deal in December 2024 after the Seminoles finished 2-10 in the program’s worst season in 50 years.
    — Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of finish
Verb
  • Both the United States and a United Nations investigation concluded that the shootdown happened over international waters.
    — Liv Caputo Herald, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The arrest, the official explained, came after the Attorney General’s Office concluded that there had been misconduct in an April operation in which state officials dismantled a clandestine drug-manufacturing laboratory.
    — Mauricio Torres, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of conclude
Verb
  • Chacarra jumped ahead of Patrick Reed into first place in the season-long Race to Dubai that will culminate next month and crown the European tour's top player of the year.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Over the past month, college football commissioners have been dissecting what the financial terms would look like once ESPN presented its final offer for the next iteration of the postseason tournament to crown a national champion.
    — Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of crown
Verb
  • In Lloyd’s production, the action climaxes with Benedick and Beatrice in an encounter that nods to Dirty Dancing.
    — Zing Tsjeng, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The Sex Pistols were due in San Francisco at any moment, and punk rock in America was about to climax.
    — Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of climax

Browse Nearby Words

culls
culminate
culminated
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Cite this Entry

“Culminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/culminate. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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