culminate

American  

[kuhl-muh-neyt] / ˈkʌl məˌneɪt /

verb (used without object)

culminated, culminating

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

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

   The argument culminated in a fistfight.

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

   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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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Etymology

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 -ate ¹

Explanation

The verb culminate is used to describe a high point or a climactic stage in a process. For example, the goal of a Major League baseball team is to have their season culminate in a World Series victory. The word culminate derives from the Latin word culminatus, the past participle of culminare, which means "to top or crown." Use culminate when you are referring to a crowning moment or a final conclusion: “I want my experiments combining strawberry jam with burnt toast to culminate in a Nobel Prize in Chemistry — or at least a lucrative contract with a major food supplier.”

Example Sentences

Still, many controllers opt out of what they describe as an onerous examination process that could culminate in losing their careers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

Sometimes these culminate into a special certification that can be added to your résumé.

From Barron's • Feb. 7, 2026

“We continue to expect that the year will culminate in what we hope will be quite a strong year-end in quarter four.”

From MarketWatch • Nov. 5, 2025

MND is not one disease - it is really several that culminate in the death of motor neurones or nerve cells.

From BBC • Oct. 6, 2025

Occasionally one of her infatuations would culminate in a lunch or coffee date, an encounter on which she would pin all her hopes but which would lead to nothing.

From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri

Related Words

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