Basic Details
Word: Culminated
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Reached its final and highest point, or ended with a particular event, as when a long effort finishes in success.
Synonyms: ended, peaked, climaxed, concluded
Antonyms: began, started
Word origin: Comes from Latin culminare, to reach the top, from culmen, a summit or peak.
How to Spell Culminated
Syllables: cul - mi - nat - ed
Tricky part: The vowel after the m is i, not a, so culmanated is a common slip. Only one t comes before the ed.
Watch out for: culmanated, culminatted, colminated
Memory tip: Picture a climber at the summit, the top of the mountain: the Latin culmen means summit, and the climb culminated there. Break it into cul-mi-nat-ed and say the mi clearly.
Usage Examples
Example 1: Months of rehearsal culminated in a full house on the opening night of the school play.
Example 2: The quarrel between the two neighbours culminated in a complaint to the housing society.
Example 3: Her cricket career culminated with a place in the state under-16 team.
Fun Fact
Astronomers use the word too: a star culminates when it crosses the meridian, the moment it stands highest in the sky that night.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Fill in the missing letters to complete the word:
c_lmin_ted
a) a, i
b) u, a
c) o, a
d) u, e
Show answer
b) u, a. Say the word slowly: cul has a short u, and nat- carries the a before ted.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word culminated as used in the sentence:
The week-long science fair culminated in a prize ceremony in the school hall.
a) wavered
b) ended
c) stalled
d) started
Show answer
b) ended. The prize ceremony came last, so the fair ended with it.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters in the sentence to form a meaningful word:
The long march tumlicdane at the steps of the town hall.
a) calculated
b) eliminated
c) illuminated
d) culminated
Show answer
d) culminated. Count the letters: the jumble has a c, a u and only one l, which leaves culminated.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. When a long effort culminates, it ____.
a) keeps getting delayed
b) reaches its high point
c) is cancelled early
d) starts all over
Show answer
b) reaches its high point
2. The noun culmination means ____.
a) the final or highest point
b) the first small step
c) a long delay
d) a sudden mistake
Show answer
a) the final or highest point
