cresting

American  

[kres-ting] / ˈkrɛs tɪŋ /

noun

1. Architecture. a decorative coping, balustrade, etc., usually designed to give an interesting skyline.

2. Furniture. ornamentation either carved or sawed in the top rail of a piece or else added to it.

3. a system of ornamental ridges or flutes on a piece of plate armor.

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cresting British  

/ ˈkrɛstɪŋ /

noun

1. an ornamental ridge along the top of a roof, wall, etc

2. carpentry a shaped decorative toprail or horizontal carved ornament surmounting a chair, mirror, etc

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Etymology

Origin of cresting

First recorded in 1865–70; crest + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

A subtle wave of shame rises — small but persistent — cresting as you imagine your child saying, or your partner thinking, “We’re having this again?”

From Salon • Jan. 31, 2026

New data-center designs are cresting one gigawatt in power consumption, the entire capacity of a nuclear reactor.

From Barron's • Dec. 31, 2025

They currently have all 10 songs from “Arcadia” on the latter chart, with “Caramel” cresting at 34.

From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2025

After cresting, the rivers’ recession would be slow, leaving the waterways above the major flooding stage through the middle of the week.

From New York Times • May 5, 2024

They are the three figures we saw cresting the hill.

From "The Inquisitor's Tale" by Adam Gidwitz