culminate

[kuhl-muh-neyt]

verb (used without object)

culminated, culminating 

1. to reach the highest point, summit, or highest development (usually followed byin ).

2. to end or arrive at a final stage (usually followed byin ).

   The argument culminated in a fistfight.

3. to rise to or form an apex; terminate (usually followed byin ).

   The tower culminates in a tall spire.

4. Astronomy.,  (of a celestial body) to be on the meridian, or reach the highest or the lowest altitude.

verb (used with object)

culminated, culminating 

1. to bring to a close; complete; climax.

   The president's signature on this bill culminates an eight-year campaign for legislation to help individuals and families finance their long-term disability needs.

culminate

/ ˈkʌlmɪˌneɪt /

verb

1. to end or cause to end, esp to reach or bring to a final or climactic stage

2. (intr) (of a celestial body) to cross the meridian of the observer

Word History and Origins

Origin of culminate¹

First recorded in 1640–50; from Late Latin culminātus (past participle of culmināre to come to a peak), equivalent to Latin culmin- (stem of culmen ) “peak, top” + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of culminate¹

C17: from Late Latin culmināre to reach the highest point, from Latin culmen top

Example Sentences

The Toronto Blue Jays systematically dismantled the Yankees in the best-of-five division series, culminating with a 5-2 win that propelled them to the cusp of the World Series for the first time since 1993.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

But the length has varied widely: The longest bull run lasted more than 12 years, starting in 1987 and culminating with the peak of the dot-com bubble in March 2000.

Read more on MarketWatch

The oil giant’s layoffs, amounting to about 3% of its global workforce, culminate a yearslong push to consolidate offices and thin its ranks as it targets billions of dollars in annual structural costs.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

That run culminated in a tight bull flag formation, which resolved to the upside when the stock broke above the $178 pivot on Sept. 26.

Read more on Barron's

By that autumn, a mood had begun to take hold about human rights that, 14 years later, has culminated in the Conservatives pledging to leave the ECHR.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• cap 
• climax 
• conclude 
• end up 
• round off 
• terminate 
• wind up