summit

¹ American  

[suhm-it] / ˈsʌm ɪt /

noun

1. the highest point or part, as of a hill, a line of travel, or any object; top; apex.

   Synonyms:

   pinnacle, peak

   Antonyms:

   base

2. the highest point of attainment or aspiration.

   the summit of one's ambition.

   Synonyms:

   culmination, zenith, acme

3. the highest state or degree.

   Synonyms:

   culmination, zenith, acme

4. the highest level of diplomatic or other governmental officials.

   a meeting at the summit.

5. summit meeting.

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adjective

1. of or relating to a summit meeting.

   summit talks.

verb (used without object)

1. to take part in a summit meeting.

2. to reach a summit.

   summited after a 14-hour climb.

verb (used with object)

1. to reach the summit of.

Summit ² American  

[suhm-it] / ˈsʌm ɪt /

noun

1. a city in NE New Jersey.

2. a city in NE Illinois.

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summit British  

/ ˈsʌmɪt /

noun

1. the highest point or part, esp of a mountain or line of communication; top

2. the highest possible degree or state; peak or climax

   the summit of ambition

3. the highest level, importance, or rank

   a meeting at the summit

4. 1. a meeting of chiefs of governments or other high officials

   2. ( as modifier )

      a summit conference

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Other Word Forms

• minisummit noun
• presummit adjective
• summital adjective
• summitless adjective

Etymology

Origin of summit

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English somete, from Old French, from som “top” (from Latin summum, noun use of neuter of summus “highest”; sum ) + -ete -et

Explanation

What better place for the mountain-climbing summit than on the summit of the mountain. A summit can mean either a meeting between people who are interested in the same subject or the peak of the mountain. Although originally meant to describe a meeting between the heads of state, summit can be used to describe any gathering of people who care deeply about the same topic. If, for example, you are the captain of your chess club, you might attend the upcoming Chess Club Summit, at which new rules of the tournament will be discussed. Moreover, while summit also means the very top of a mountain, summit can be used metaphorically to mean a variety of heights, such as the summit of a career, an industry, or any kind of major effort.

Example Sentences

The US president is due to travel to Beijing in mid-May to meet Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, in a crucial summit between the two superpowers.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

Reaching the summit after several hours, they stayed only long enough to take pictures and plant flags as 50-mph winds whipped around them.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

This was despite the UK's wanting to keep the subject off the agenda at a two-day summit in Samoa.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping had been scheduled to meet in Beijing around April 1, a summit that has been pushed back to mid-May.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

Francis Gary Powers's U-2 plane crossed into Soviet airspace just six days before the start of the Paris summit.

From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau