Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense climaxes, present participle climaxing, past tense, past participle climaxed
1. countable noun
The climaxof something is the most exciting or important moment in it, usually near the end.
For Pritchard, getting a medal was the climax of her career. [+ of/to]
It was the climax to 24 hours of growing anxiety. [+ to]
The last golf tournament of the European season is building up to a dramatic climax.
Synonyms: culmination, head, top, summit More Synonyms of climax
2. verb
The event that climaxes a sequence of events is an exciting or important event that comes at the end. You can also say that a sequence of events climaxeswith a particular event.
[journalism]
The demonstration climaxed two weeks of strikes. [VERB noun]
They've just finished a sell-out U.K. tour that climaxed with a three-night stintat Brixton Academy. [VERB + with]
[Also VERB]
3. variable noun
A climax is an orgasm.
4. verb
When someone climaxes, they have an orgasm.
Often, a man can enjoy making love but may not be sufficiently aroused to climax. [VERB]
More Synonyms of climax
climax in British English
(ˈklaɪmæks)
noun
1.
the most intense or highest point of an experience or of a series of events
the party was the climax of the week
2.
a decisive moment in a dramatic or other work
3.
a rhetorical device by which a series of sentences, clauses, or phrases are arranged in order of increasing intensity
4. ecology
the stage in the development of a community during which it remains stable under the prevailing environmental conditions
5. Also called: sexual climax. another word for orgasm
verb
6.
to reach or bring to a climax
Word origin
C16: from Late Latin, from Greek klimax ladder
climax in American English
(ˈklaɪˌmæks)
noun
1.
a rhetorical series of ideas, images, etc. arranged progressively so that the most forceful is last
2.
the final, culminating element or event in a series; highest point, as of interest or excitement
; specif.,
a.
the decisive turning point of the action, as in a drama
b.
an orgasm
3. Ecology
a final, self-perpetuating community of plants and animals that develops in a particular climate, soil, etc.: it will persist as long as the same conditions prevail
verb intransitive, verb transitive
4.
to reach or bring to a climax
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈsummit
Word origin
LL < Gr klimax, ladder < base of klinein, to slope: see incline
COBUILD Collocations
climax
dramatic climax
fitting climax
nail-biting climax
thrilling climax
Examples of 'climax' in a sentence
climax
The crucial refereeing error occurred as a compelling match reached a stunning climax.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
You are both able to climax together, just not in the way you first expected.
The Sun (2016)
At the climax, the man himself makes a cameo.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
A story about to reach its climax.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This month the English national championships reach their climax with the finals to be played in Cirencester.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
As the crisis neared its climax his support was total and unqualified.
Richard Ingrams The Life and Adventures of William Cobbett (2005)
The climax to the end of a brilliant season brings a brilliant final.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It would be some climax to a career that has brought only admiration and acclaim.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The fireworks along the bank were reaching a climax.
Ben Nimmo IN FORKBEARD'S WAKE: Coasting Round Scandinavia (2003)
Rarely does a tour reach its climax without some mishap causing a rethink of personnel.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The house was the climax of the experience.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The anxiety alone may be making you climax quickly.
The Sun (2015)
It was a fitting climax to a breathtaking display.
The Sun (2009)
Both men played their part in a dramatic climax.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Why do women sometimes take two minutes to climax and sometimes an hour?
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
My advice line on helping a man climax will be useful.
The Sun (2010)
The monthly visit was the emotional climax in the monthly cycle of existence for many prisoners.
Coyle, Andrew & Stern, Vivien The Prisons We Deserve (1994)
At the climax the stage literally blooms with life.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It was just a shame the officials did not allow it to end with the climax it deserved.
The Sun (2012)
What a climax to the season.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It's less important to climax than to enjoy making love and feeling great afterwards.
The Sun (2007)
The present series reaches its climax with a two-part story that ends next week.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It was an incredibly exciting climax again and the England fans were fantastic.
The Sun (2010)
The slow-motion train crash in the eurozone is nearing its climax.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Glasgow 2014 represented the climax of a career devoted to sports administration.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
We could have been enjoying an epic climax to the Flat jockeys' championship.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Word lists with
climax
figure of speech
In other languages
climax
British English: climax NOUN
The climax of something is the most exciting or important moment, near the end.
Reaching an Olympics was the climax of her career.
American English: climax
Brazilian Portuguese: clímax
Chinese: 高潮
European Spanish: apogeo
French: apogée
German: Höhepunkt
Italian: culmine
Japanese: 最高潮
Korean: 최고조
European Portuguese: clímax
Latin American Spanish: apogeo
British English: climax VERB
The event that climaxes a sequence of events is an exciting or important event that comes at the end.
The demonstration climaxed two weeks of strikes.
The spectacle climaxed with an appearance by a troupe of drum majorettes.
American English: climax
Brazilian Portuguese: atingir o clímax
Chinese: 带来高潮
European Spanish: ser el culmen
French: constituer l'apogée deN
German: den Höhepunkt erreichen
Italian: rappresentare il punto culminante di
Japanese: クライマックスを迎える
Korean: 절정에 이르다
European Portuguese: atingir o clímax
Latin American Spanish: ser el culmen
All related terms of 'climax'
sexual climax
the most intense or highest point of an experience or of a series of events
dramatic climax
The climax of something is the most exciting or important moment in it, usually near the end.
fitting climax
The climax of something is the most exciting or important moment in it, usually near the end.
thrilling climax
The climax of something is the most exciting or important moment in it, usually near the end.
nail-biting climax
The climax of something is the most exciting or important moment in it, usually near the end.
Chinese translation of 'climax'
climax
(ˈklaɪmæks)
n
(c)[of event, career]高峰 (gāofēng)
(c/u) (sexual) 高潮 (gāocháo)
vi
达(達)到高潮 (dádào gāocháo)
(noun)
Definition
the most intense or highest point of an experience or of a series of events
Reaching the Olympics was the climax of her career.
Synonyms
culmination
head
the head of the stairs
top
I came down alone from the top of the mountain.
summit
This is just a molehill on the way to the summit of her ambitions.
height
He was struck down at the height of his career.
highlight
one of the highlights of the tournament
peak
Her career was at its peak when she died.
pay-off (informal)
crest
He reached the crest of the hill.
high point
The high point of this trip was a day at the races.
zenith
His career is now at its zenith.
apogee
The campaign reached its apogee in the 1970s.
high spot (informal)
acme
the acme of cinematic art
ne plus ultra (Latin)
The new building is the ne plus ultra of theatrical design.
(verb)
Definition
to reach or bring to a climax
They did a series of charity events climaxing in a midsummer concert.
Synonyms
culminate
The parade will culminate in a firework display.
end
The book ends on a lengthy description of Hawaii.
finish
He was cheered when he finished his speech.
conclude
They concluded their annual summit meeting today.
peak
Temperatures have peaked at over 30 degrees Celsius.