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.”
A bitter feud culminated months of tension. culminated the school year with a trip to New York
Recent Examples on the WebThe program does not require previous experience and each session will culminate with a performance open to the public. Linda Mcintosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Aug. 2022 The invite would culminate in a violin concerto co-commission for Childs collaborator and Grant Park Music Festival favorite Rachel Barton Pine, with Grant Park being the first to present it. Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 18 July 2022 The two preliminary steps culminate at the warehouse network SuperCircle has established to maintain the inventory of fabric and garment waste. Cassell Ferere, Forbes, 26 May 2022 The event will culminate at Kingsheart Farm and Gardens, a restored horse farm, where there will be a boutique, seminars, food and beverage, vendors, music and plein air painting. Joanne Kempinger Demski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 19 May 2022 MusicCon will culminate with the 2022 Billboard Music Awards, hosted by Diddy, which will air live Sunday, May 15, at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET on NBC from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 22 Apr. 2022 The events will culminate with Resurrection Sunday services at 9:30 a.m. April 17 with Bryant and gospel artist VaShawn Mitchell. Shelia Poole, ajc, 10 Apr. 2022 The show on Sunday will culminate days of parties across town at a time when a new variant of the illness is spreading across the region. Anousha Sakouistaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2022 Those 15 spring practices will culminate with the Red-White Game on April 23 at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Josh Newman, The Salt Lake Tribune, 21 Mar. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Medieval Latin culminatus, past participle of culminare, from Late Latin, to crown, from Latin culmin-, culmen top — more at hill