culminate

[ kuhl-muh-neyt ]

/ ˈkʌl məˌneɪt /

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See synonyms for: culminate / culminated / culminating on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), cul·mi·nat·ed, cul·mi·nat·ing.

to reach the highest point, summit, or highest development (usually followed by in).

to end or arrive at a final stage (usually followed by in): The argument culminated in a fistfight.

to rise to or form an apex; terminate (usually followed by in): The tower culminates in a tall spire.

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

verb (used with object), cul·mi·nat·ed, cul·mi·nat·ing.

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.

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Origin of culminate

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 -ate¹

Words nearby culminate

cully, culm, culmicolous, culmiferous, culminant, culminate, culminating, culmination, culminative, culo, culottes

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use culminate in a sentence

Finally, in an attempt to be sure that the targeted audience was being reached, an event culminating the work on this project was held virtually.
Two ProPublica Local Reporting Network Projects Named Finalists for Shadid Award for Journalism Ethics|by ProPublica|February 8, 2021|ProPublica
The frenzy culminated last summer with the release of streaming behemoth “7 Summers,” a track about a long-lost ex that Wallen didn’t even initially plan to include on his album.
You might know Morgan Wallen because of the SNL incident. But he’s poised to be the future of country music.|Emily Yahr|January 21, 2021|Washington Post
“It culminated in the type of civil unrest we saw two weeks ago,” Iqbal said.
Inauguration Day, in 2017 and 2021||January 20, 2021|Washington Post
Instead, he trained for another four-year “quad” culminating in Beijing 2008, where he won another gold in the 800-meter freestyle relay — his second gold, to go with one silver and two bronzes.
From Olympic medalist to Capitol rioter: The fall of Klete Keller|Dave Sheinin, Rick Maese|January 15, 2021|Washington Post

A year-long dispute between franchise legend Trent Williams and the organization’s new regime culminated in Washington trading Williams to San Francisco for two draft picks.
Washington football timeline: From Ron Rivera hiring to playoff exit|Sam Fortier|January 12, 2021|Washington Post
This will all culminate in a mini-series event called The Defenders.
Netflix and Marvel’s ‘Luke Cage’ and a Brief History of Black Superheroes|Chancellor Agard|November 13, 2013|DAILY BEAST
There is no promise that the players will break into song to culminate the show ... but one can hope!
10 Things to Watch at the 2013 U.S. Open|Nicholas McCarvel|August 26, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The overseas portion of the tour is slated to begin this month in the Netherlands and will culminate in mid-December in Belgium.
Cat Power Announces Possible Tour Cancellation, Bankruptcy|Lauren Streib|November 2, 2012|DAILY BEAST
And if the Greek philosophy did not culminate in him, yet he laid down those principles by which only it could be advanced.
Beacon Lights of History, Volume I|John Lord
What was more natural than that their friendship should culminate in a deeper feeling!
Patchwork|Anna Balmer Myers
As we know from the book of Revelation this present age will culminate in the formation of Babylon the Great.
The Prophet Ezekiel|Arno C. Gaebelein
Man's aim is to culminate; but it is the saddest thing in the world to feel that we have accomplished it.
Rhoda Fleming, Complete|George Meredith
During the following night, internal troubles assumed the first definite shape of that in which they were soon to culminate.
Recollections of Thirty-nine Years in the Army|Charles Alexander Gordon

British Dictionary definitions for culminate

culminate

/ (ˈkʌlmɪˌneɪt) /

verb

(when intr, usually foll by in) to end or cause to end, esp to reach or bring to a final or climactic stage

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

Word Origin for culminate

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

culminate

Origin of culminate

Words nearby culminate

Words related to culminate

How to use culminate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for culminate

Word Origin for culminate