What does culminate mean?
Word: Culminate
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Culminate means to end with, or reach, a final high point after building up over time.
Synonyms: peak
Antonyms: begin
Word origin: Comes from Late Latin culminare, built on culmen, the Latin word for a summit or the top of a roof.
How do you spell culminate?
Syllables: cul - mi - nate
Tricky part: The vowel after the m is said so lightly that students guess and write culmanate or culmenate. It is an i.
Watch out for: culmanate, culmenate
Memory tip: Things that culminate climb to the top, and the i of climb is the vowel straight after the m.
Culminate in a sentence
Example 1: A week of rehearsals culminated in a flawless performance on Annual Day.
Example 2: Months of saving will culminate in a family trip to Darjeeling.
Example 3: The science fair culminates with a prize-giving in the main hall.
Fun Fact
Astronomers say a star culminates when it reaches its highest point in the night sky as it crosses the meridian.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Champ
Choose the correct word for the blank:
The clean-up drive along the river will ___ in a big tree-planting day next Sunday.
a) culminate
b) dominate
c) nominate
d) eliminate
Show answer
a) culminate. A drive can build up to a high point at its end; the other three verbs do not fit "in a big tree-planting day".
Jumble Tumble
Choose the correct sequence of the jumbled letters to form a meaningful word:
tnaclmeiu 123456789
a) 495682317
b) 495632817
c) 459682317
d) 795682314
Show answer
a) 495682317. Reading the letters in this order spells culminate.
Word Tally
How many words are misspelt in the given sentence?
The three-day cricket camp will culminate in a friendly match, after which every player will recieve a certificate signed by the coach and the principel.
a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) 0
Show answer
b) 2. Receive puts e before i after c, and principal ends in -al; the rest of the sentence is correct.
Word Puzzle
Match each word with its synonym:
1. culminate 2. ponder 3. vanish a. disappear b. reflect c. climax
a) 1-a, 2-b, 3-c
b) 1-c, 2-a, 3-b
c) 1-b, 2-c, 3-a
d) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a
Show answer
d) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a. Events culminate or climax at their high point, you ponder or reflect on a problem, and mist can vanish or disappear.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A city fair that culminates in a fireworks display ___.
a) has fireworks every hour of the day
b) starts with fireworks and then calms down
c) ends with the fireworks as its high point
d) calls off the fireworks at the last minute
Show answer
c) ends with the fireworks as its high point
2. Which of these would naturally culminate in a final match?
a) a morning walk
b) a short phone call
c) a football tournament
d) a quiet lunch
Show answer
c) a football tournament
