culmination

[kuhl-muh-ney-shuhn]

noun

1. the act or fact of culminating.

2. that in which anything culminates; the culminating position or stage; highest point; acme.

   Synonyms: summit, peak, zenith, climax

3. Astronomy.,  the position of a celestial body when it is on the meridian.

culmination

/ ˌkʌlmɪˈneɪʃən /

noun

1. the final, highest, or decisive point

2. the act of culminating

3. astronomy the highest or lowest altitude attained by a heavenly body as it crosses the meridian

Other Word Forms

• nonculmination noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of culmination¹

1625–35; < Medieval Latin culminātiōn-, stem of culminātiō; culminate, -ion

Example Sentences

It marked the culmination of a frenetic White House campaign to bring a case against Comey—over the objection of career prosecutors—in the final days before the time window for charges expired.

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For some, it’s a last hurrah, the culmination of ideas that had been percolating for years.

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This film is the culmination of years of work, an effort that was celebrated when it debuted at Cannes in May.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The showily exoticized wallpaper, sold throughout Europe and in North America by celebrated manufacturer Joseph Dufour, was the culmination of Western public fascination with British Royal Navy Capt. James Cook’s three voyages to the Pacific.

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Moms for Liberty referred to the portal as the “culmination” of Justice’s work.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• apex 
• climax 
• completion 
• pinnacle