summit
1 Americannoun
-
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)
noun
-
a city in NE New Jersey.
-
a city in NE Illinois.
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
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.
"Xi will almost certainly brief Putin on his summit with Trump," Kim said.
From Barron's • May 19, 2026
He might have sounded accommodating in the afterglow of his trip, but U.S. officials say nothing was surrendered in the summit itself.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026
During last week's summit, Xi had told Trump that the issue of Taiwan was the most important one in US-China relations, and that mishandling it could lead to conflict.
From BBC • May 18, 2026
The last tail risk for risk assets that Steer identifies is concerns about Taiwan, following ambiguous comments about the island’s future after the summit between President Donald Trump China’s leader Xi Jinping.
From MarketWatch • May 18, 2026
Khrushchev stormed out of the Paris nuclear summit only a day after it began.
From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau
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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.