Culminate (Verb)
Meaning 1
Reach the highest altitude or the meridian, of a celestial body.
Classification
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming.
Examples
- The eclipse will culminate at its peak visibility near noon when the moon is directly overhead.
- As the sun begins to set, the planet will culminate in the sky, disappearing briefly below the horizon.
- The perihelion passage is expected to culminate just after midnight, bringing the asteroid within mere astronomical units of Earth's orbit.
- At precisely 3:45 PM local time, the lunar transit will culminate, bathing the eastern horizon in its ethereal glow.
- Tonight, the stars will culminate in a stunning celestial display, a harbinger of the impending equinox.
Hypernyms
Related Words
Meaning 2
End, especially to reach a final or climactic stage; "The meeting culminated in a tearful embrace".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- The ceremony culminated in the exchange of vows between the bride and groom.
- Months of planning and preparation culminated in the successful launch of the new product.
- The intense rivalry between the two teams culminated in a thrilling championship finale.
- Years of hard work and dedication culminated in her acceptance of the prestigious award.
- The tense standoff between the protesters and authorities culminated in a dramatic late-night confrontation.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Hyponyms
Related Words
Meaning 3
Rise to, or form, a summit; "The helmet culminated in a crest".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- The Gothic spire culminated in an intricately carved steeple that rose high above the surrounding buildings.
- The ancient monument's tiered structure culminated in a delicate finial that now sat slightly askew.
- The sleek, aerodynamic design of the sports car culminated in a distinctive spoiler that improved its handling at high speeds.
- The dramatic landscape culminated in a breathtaking vista from the mountaintop, with breathtaking views for miles around.
- The tower's elegant, curved lines culminated in a delicate, lacy parapet that seemed almost otherworldly.
Meaning 4
Reach the highest or most decisive point.
Classification
Verbs of political and social activities and events.
Examples
- The baseball season will culminate in the World Series championship game.
- The protest marches will culminate in a massive rally in the city center.
- The months of training and hard work will culminate in the athlete's first professional fight.
- The tense negotiations will culminate in a final, make-or-break meeting between the two leaders.
- The festival's events will culminate in a spectacular fireworks display on New Year's Eve.
Hypernyms
Related Words
Meaning 5
Bring to a head or to the highest point; "Seurat culminated pointillism".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- The years of struggle and hard work will culminate in her graduation ceremony next week.
- The series of art movements in the 19th century culminated in the emergence of Impressionism.
- After months of training, the athlete's efforts will culminate in the upcoming Olympic trials.
- The author's decades-long study of existentialism culminated in his award-winning novel.
- The weeks of tense negotiations between the two parties will culminate in a historic agreement today.