culminate
verb
Frederick Marryat
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When a star or other heavenly body culminates, it reaches its highest point above the horizon from the vantage point of an observer on the ground. Culminate was drawn from Medieval Latin culminare, meaning "to crown," specifically for this astronomical application. Its ultimate root is Latin culmen, meaning "top." Today, the word’s typical context is less lofty: it can mean “to reach a climactic point,” as in “a long career culminating in a prestigious award,” but it can also simply mean "to reach the end of something,” as in “a sentence culminating in a period.”
Examples of culminate in a Sentence
Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025
Image: Nintendo The big reveal of the Switch’s successor comes after a long period of leaks and rumors, culminating in today’s official announcement.
—Andrew Webster, The Verge, 16 Jan. 2025
Season 1 took many twists and turns, culminating in one of the most shocking finales in recent television history.
—Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 15 Jan. 2025
These fellows will create work that aligns with Parks’ themes of representation and justice, culminating in solo exhibitions at the Foundation’s Gallery in Pleasantville, NY.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 15 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Culminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/culminate. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.
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culminate
verb
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