summit
noun
the highest point or part, as of a hill, a line of travel, or any object; top; apex.
summit
1 American
[suhm-it]
/ ˈsʌm ɪt /
noun
-
summits
plural
-
the highest point or part, as of a hill, a line of travel, or any object; top; apex.
- Antonyms:
- base
-
the highest point of attainment or aspiration.
the summit of one's ambition.
- Synonyms:
- culmination, zenith, acme
-
the highest state or degree.
- Synonyms:
- culmination, zenith, acme
-
the highest level of diplomatic or other governmental officials.
a meeting at the summit.
adjective
verb (used without object)
-
to take part in a summit meeting.
-
to reach a summit.
summited after a 14-hour climb.
verb (used with object)
Summit
2
American
[suhm-it]
/ ˈsʌm ɪt /
noun
-
a city in NE New Jersey.
-
a city in NE Illinois.
summit
British
/ ˈsʌmɪt /
noun
-
the highest point or part, esp of a mountain or line of communication; top
-
the highest possible degree or state; peak or climax
the summit of ambition
-
the highest level, importance, or rank
a meeting at the summit
-
-
a meeting of chiefs of governments or other high officials
-
( as modifier )
a summit conference
-
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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”; see 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.
Vocabulary lists containing summit
Higher Learning: Synonyms For "Up"
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Talk Like Shakespeare Day, List 7
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The Contemporary Period, c. 1914 to the Present
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
He told the summit that although the UK was home to outstanding research and start-ups, too many companies had gone abroad in search of investment.
From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026
Kazarian marks at least the second person who died this year while trying to summit the highest peak in the contiguous U.S. at 14,505 feet.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
At last year's summit, fossil fuels were not mentioned by name in the final agreement after oil and gas-producing nations prevented consensus on the issue.
From Barron's ● Oct. 6, 2026
He also re-created a famous photo with his Icelandic counterpart at Höfði House, highlighting Iceland’s role in the landmark 1986 summit between former President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026
A few hundred yards beyond the summit was a campsite with a wooden shelter in a big grassy clearing against a backdrop of dark trees.
From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson
But at Robinhood’s Hood Summit, the party was still raging.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2026
Vaughns’ territory on Summit Avenue has long been associated with a Pasadena gang, the law enforcement sources said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
The CEO Council Summit in San Francisco on December 7–8 is the definitive gathering of global decision makers who are shaping the future of business.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026
Summit played up his corporate background by updating his old LinkedIn profile with a badge announcing he was “Open to Work.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
The campus newspaper had also run a piece about my appearance at the Women in the World Summit.
From "How Dare the Sun Rise" by Sandra Uwiringiyimana
For most American presidents, summits, especially with powerful leaders, are carefully planned affairs.
From Slate ● Sep. 25, 2026
Before the U.S. attempted to gather the top attendees Monday for a “family photo,” a tradition of such summits, the Europeans blanched.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026
The trip marks a rare foreign visit for the crown prince, with Paris emphasising that he seldom leaves his home country other than for international summits.
From Barron's ● Aug. 24, 2026
Scottish Mountaineering Club requires climbers to reach 1,072 summits across six different hill classifications to complete the "full house".
From BBC ● Aug. 23, 2026
Suddenly we could see the world below and how high up we were, which was a considerable distance, though all the nearby summits were wreathed in clouds.
From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
