culminate
culminate Lexical Profile
culminate Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To reach a climax or point of highest development, or to end in a specified result (usually followed by 'in' or 'with').
"Months of intensive research and rehearsals culminated in a widely praised symposium."
To reach the highest point above the observer's horizon, or to cross the meridian (of a celestial body).
"During the winter solstice, the sun culminates at its lowest altitude in the southern sky."
Word Nuance & Usage
When indicating a final result or climax, 'culminate' is almost always used intransitively with the preposition 'in' or 'with' (e.g., 'culminate in an agreement'), rather than taking a direct object.
• Rhymes for culminate
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the mid-17th century from Late Latin culminatus, past participle of culminare ('to crown or exalt'), derived from Latin culmen ('summit, peak, or rooftop').