culmination

[ kuhl-muh-ney-shuhn ]

/ ˌkʌl məˈneɪ ʃən /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR culmination ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act or fact of culminating.

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

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

Nearby words

culmen, culmicolous, culmiferous, culminant, culminate, culmination, culminative, culo, culottes, culpa, culpability

Origin of culmination

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

SYNONYMS FOR culmination

2 climax, zenith, peak, summit.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR culmination ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsnon·cul·mi·na·tion, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for culmination

There are so many factors at play, but in the end, the culmination of them resulted in your death.
Dear Leelah, We Will Fight On For You: A Letter to a Dead Trans Teen|Parker Molloy|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The decision to cease operations at the multi-site church is the culmination of a tumultuous year.
Megachurch Mars Hill To close Doors: What Does the Future Hold Now?|Warren Throckmorton|November 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This is the big enchilada, and the culmination of the alleged death spiral.
The Five Biggest Lies About Obamacare|Michael Tomasky|August 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
His apparent suicide was likely the culmination of a brutal daily battle with severe depression that he shared with millions.
Robin Williams’ Deadly Depression|Dr. Anand Veeravagu, MD, Tej Azad|August 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST

I think the Jack in the Box incident was probably the [culmination] of that discussion.
Texas Gun Groups’ Circular Firing Squad|Brandy Zadrozny|May 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Boutroux says that the Germans themselves regard the war as the culmination of their philosophy.
The Psychology of Nations|G.E. Partridge
The wrong to woman passed so silently by, reached its culmination in the destruction of young boys.
Woman, Church & State|Matilda Joslyn Gage
There is no growth in character, no gradual moving of64 events to a culmination, no clear picture even of the central figure.
A History of American Literature Since 1870|Fred Lewis Pattee
Alps and Andes have passed beyond the culmination of their dramatic stage.
The Alps|Martin Conway
Among all the forces of the universe, the power of the soul, the culmination of them all, is apt to be lost sight of.
Christianity and Modern Thought|Various

British Dictionary definitions for culmination

culmination

/ (ˌkʌlmɪˈneɪʃən) /

noun

the final, highest, or decisive point

the act of culminating

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

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

Word Origin and History for culmination

culmination

1630s, from French culmination, noun of action from past participle stem of Late Latin culminare (see culminate). Originally a term in astronomy/astrology; figurative use is from 1650s.

culmination

noun

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of culmination

Examples from the Web for culmination

British Dictionary definitions for culmination

culmination

noun

Word Origin and History for culmination

culmination