What does zenith mean?
Word: Zenith
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Zenith means the highest point of something, or the time when someone or something is most successful. In the sky, it is the point straight above your head.
Synonyms: peak, summit, top
Antonyms: nadir
How do you spell zenith?
Syllables: zen - ith
Tricky part: The ending is -ith, though some students write -eth because of the weak sound. There is only one t.
Watch out for: zeneth, zenitth, zenit
Memory tip: Zenith ends like the name Edith and the word with: -ith.
Zenith in a sentence
Example 1: From the hilltop, the climbers watched the full moon rise slowly towards its zenith.
Example 2: Winning the national title was the zenith of her badminton career.
Example 3: The kite rose until it reached its zenith and hung still in the sky.
Fun Fact
Zenith comes from an Arabic phrase, samt ar-ras, path over the head; a copying mistake in old manuscripts changed it into the form we use today.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word: zenith
a) crown
b) bottom
c) middle
d) height
Show answer
b) bottom. Zenith is the very top, so bottom is its opposite; height and crown both point upward.
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) telescope
b) astronaut
c) zinith
d) horizon
Show answer
c) zinith. The first vowel of zenith is e, as in zebra, not i.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
zennith
a) t
b) i
c) h
d) n
Show answer
d) n. Take away one n and the word is right: zenith has a single n.
Mingle-Mangle
Form a meaningful word from the jumbled letters:
hitzen
a) within
b) zenith
c) ninth
d) zither
Show answer
b) zenith. Zither needs an r, within a w and a second i, and ninth a second n; zenith uses all six letters.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. At what time of day is the sun usually nearest its zenith?
a) at sunrise
b) at midnight
c) at sunset
d) around midday
Show answer
d) around midday
2. The zenith of a singer's career is the time when she is ____.
a) resting a sore throat
b) just starting her first lessons
c) at the height of her fame
d) about to give up singing
Show answer
c) at the height of her fame
