zenith

American  

[zee-nith, zen-ith] / ˈzi nɪθ, ˈzɛn ɪθ /

noun

zeniths plural

1. the point on the celestial sphere vertically above a given position or observer.

   Antonyms:

   nadir

2. a highest point or state; culmination.

   Synonyms:

   summit, apex

   Antonyms:

   nadir

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zenith British  

/ ˈziːnɪθ, ˈzɛnɪθ /

noun

1. astronomy the point on the celestial sphere vertically above an observer

2. the highest point; peak; acme

   the zenith of someone's achievements

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zenith Scientific  

/ zē′nĭth /

1. The point on the celestial sphere that is directly above the observer (90 degrees above the celestial horizon).

2. Compare nadir

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• zenithal
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• zeniths
  plural

Etymology

Origin of zenith

1350–1400; Middle English cenith < Medieval Latin < Old Spanish zenit, scribal error for zemt < Arabic samt road, incorrectly read as senit by medieval scribes (compare Arabic samt ar-rās road above (over) one's head, the opposite of nadir )

Explanation

Zenith means the high point — it comes from astronomy, where it describes the highest point in an arc traveled by a star or a planet or another celestial body. The sun reaches its zenith when it is as high in the sky as it is going to go on that day. Zenith — and its opposite, nadir — have been appropriated by non-astronomers and are used to describe high and low points in non-astronomical contexts. For example, you can say that the high school quarterback hit his zenith in high school, and it was all downhill from there. Do yourself a favor and try to delay your zenith so you'll have something to look forward to in your future!

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

zenith zeniths

They observe that even at the zenith of the dotcom bubble in 2000, eurozone stocks were only at 30 times by comparison.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 29, 2026

But enthusiasm for some of the predicted nominees isn’t at its zenith: “Despite grim reviews for its latest season, ‘Euphoria’ will still eke out a nomination because Zendaya can do no wrong,” grouses Kristen Baldwin.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 21, 2026

That reputation had reached its zenith by late 2024, when the firm was drawing takeover interest.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 11, 2026

Standing on a stage and clutching a Grammy as the world watches on is, arguably, the zenith of stardom.

From BBC ● Feb. 3, 2026

It reached what they were certain must be the zenith of its curve, and then, defying all reason, it continued to rise into the air.

From "Stardust" by Neil Gaiman

The sweater’s the color of outfits his forefathers donned, in 1983, doing standup at and near their zeniths.

From New York Times ● Apr. 19, 2022

Somebody with a much bigger degree than I’ll ever get might look back and do an analysis of periods of history when horror movies have had their zeniths.

From New York Times ● Oct. 26, 2018

Producer Carroll's tenth durbar is not a perpetual triumph, but it reaches zeniths of one sort and another.

From Time Magazine Archive

Will James has had his zeniths and his nadirs.

From Time Magazine Archive

Here he would rise to immeasurable zeniths of spirituality.

From The Lions of the Lord A Tale of the Old West by Wilson, Harry Leon