the highest point or part, as of a hill, a line of travel, or any object; top; apex.
the highest point of attainment or aspiration.
the summit of one's ambition.
the highest state or degree.
the highest level of diplomatic or other governmental officials.
a meeting at the summit.
to take part in a summit meeting.
to reach a summit.
summited after a 14-hour climb.
a city in NE New Jersey.
a city in NE Illinois.
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
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
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.
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A declaration on "maritime cooperation" is also expected to emerge from this week's summit, but not the long-sought-after Code of Conduct for the South China Sea.
From Barron's • May 7, 2026
Another visitor, Richard Smekal, posted about the conga line of climbers who packed onto the cables leading to the Half Dome summit.
From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026
Markets reacted positively to signs of progress in Iran talks; further delays to the May 14-15 Trump-Xi summit could be negative.
From Barron's • May 6, 2026
Last week, we asked what kind of moment, if any, would surprise you in the coming U.S.-China summit in Beijing.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 5, 2026
And when I looked around, I saw that a flurry of magnificent mariposas swarmed around us as we stood waiting on the summit of the hill, awed by the surreal beauty that surrounded us.
From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall
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.
