pinnacle

1 of 2

noun

pin·na·cle ˈpi-ni-kəl How to pronounce pinnacle (audio)

: an upright architectural member generally ending in a small spire and used especially in Gothic construction to give weight especially to a buttress

: a structure or formation suggesting a pinnacle

specifically : a lofty peak

: the highest point of development or achievement : acme

pinnacle

2 of 2

verb

pinnacled; pinnacling ˈpi-ni-k(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce pinnacle (audio)

transitive verb

: to surmount with a pinnacle

: to raise or rear on a pinnacle

Did you know?

Pinnacle is one of several words that aspire to both literal and figurative heights. Others include summit, peak, climax, apex, acme, and culmination. All of these can refer to the highest point of a mountain or structure, or the highest point attained or attainable over a person's lifetime, career, etc. When referring to part of a building, pinnacle describes a projection on top of a tower (as on a Gothic cathedral). The word derives via Anglo-French from Late Latin pinnaculum, meaning "small wing," a diminutive of pinna, meaning "wing or battlement." When used figuratively, pinnacle sometimes implies a dizzying and insecure height, such as that brought on by unexpected fame.

Example Sentences

Noun a singer who has reached the pinnacle of success

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The pinnacle of those clashes with foreign foes in Fairbanks featured in the film is a 1986 series with a Soviet Union team.

Casey Brogan, Anchorage Daily News, 1 Sep. 2022 In 2022 owning land in the west is the pinnacle of acquisition.

Antonia Hitchens, Town & Country, 8 June 2022 Vaughn started dancing in the clubs in Paradise Valley, but the pinnacle of dance in those days was at the Graystone Ballroom, a regal neo-Gothic structure up Woodward Avenue, the dividing line between White and Black Detroit.

J. Lester Feder, Washington Post, 2 Feb. 2022 The pinnacle of the project is the brand-new Presidential Suite, which was a private apartment until now.

Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 29 Jan. 2022 Perched on Prince Street in Soho, the eclectic home sits at the pinnacle of a five-unit co-op built in 1889 by Richard Berger.

Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 26 Aug. 2022 At the time of the concert, Franklin was at the pinnacle of her fame and power, with 20 albums and 5 Grammys under her belt.

Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2022 Adrienne Schneider was at the pinnacle of her career.

Alexa Mikhail, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2022 The dads have all spent time around the club this season, offering tips and sharing stories from decades at the pinnacle of the sport.

CBS News, 5 Aug. 2022

Verb

One father, two sons, all coaching their teams to pinnacle moments of their seasons.

Matt Goul, cleveland, 19 Mar. 2021 At the start of 2015, Hollar's weight pinnacled at 678.

Shari Rudavsky, Indianapolis Star, 4 Feb. 2018 See More

pinnacle

noun

as in zenith

the highest part or point a singer who has reached the pinnacle of success

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

zenith
top
peak
culmination
apex
height
climax
apogee
summit
acme
crest
crown
capstone
crescendo
sum
meridian
high noon
highlight
high-water mark
noon
tip-top
noontime
prime
head
glory
high
heyday
ne plus ultra
extreme
roof
ceiling
flower
cap
extremity
blossom
bloom
tip
flood tide
vertex
highspot

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

bottom
nadir
base
foot
abyss
minimum
rock bottom

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of pinnacle are acme, apex, climax, culmination, peak, and summit. While all these words mean "the highest point attained or attainable," pinnacle suggests a dizzying and often insecure height.

the pinnacle of worldly success

Although the words acme and pinnacle have much in common, acme implies a level of quality representing the perfection of a thing.

a statue that was once deemed the acme of beauty

The meanings of apex and pinnacle largely overlap; however, apex implies the point where all ascending lines converge.

the apex of Dutch culture

The words climax and pinnacle are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, climax implies the highest point in an ascending series.

the war was the climax to a series of hostile actions

In some situations, the words culmination and pinnacle are roughly equivalent. However, culmination suggests the outcome of a growth or development representing an attained objective.

the culmination of years of effort

While the synonyms peak and pinnacle are close in meaning, peak suggests the highest among other high points.

an artist working at the peak of her powers

The words summit and pinnacle can be used in similar contexts, but summit implies the topmost level attainable.

at the summit of the Victorian social scene

单词	pinnacle
释义	pinnacle 1 of 2 noun pin·na·cle ˈpi-ni-kəl 1 : an upright architectural member generally ending in a small spire and used especially in Gothic construction to give weight especially to a buttress 2 : a structure or formation suggesting a pinnacle specifically : a lofty peak 3 : the highest point of development or achievement : acme Illustration of pinnacle P pinnacle 1 pinnacle 2 of 2 verb pinnacled; pinnacling ˈpi-ni-k(ə-)liŋ transitive verb 1 : to surmount with a pinnacle 2 : to raise or rear on a pinnacle Did you know? Pinnacle is one of several words that aspire to both literal and figurative heights. Others include summit, peak, climax, apex, acme, and culmination. All of these can refer to the highest point of a mountain or structure, or the highest point attained or attainable over a person's lifetime, career, etc. When referring to part of a building, pinnacle describes a projection on top of a tower (as on a Gothic cathedral). The word derives via Anglo-French from Late Latin pinnaculum, meaning "small wing," a diminutive of pinna, meaning "wing or battlement." When used figuratively, pinnacle sometimes implies a dizzying and insecure height, such as that brought on by unexpected fame. Synonyms Noun acme apex apogee capstone climax crescendo crest crown culmination head height high noon high-water mark meridian ne plus ultra noon noontime peak sum summit tip-top top zenith See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Noun a singer who has reached the pinnacle of success Recent Examples on the Web Noun The pinnacle of those clashes with foreign foes in Fairbanks featured in the film is a 1986 series with a Soviet Union team. Casey Brogan, Anchorage Daily News, 1 Sep. 2022 In 2022 owning land in the west is the pinnacle of acquisition. Antonia Hitchens, Town & Country, 8 June 2022 Vaughn started dancing in the clubs in Paradise Valley, but the pinnacle of dance in those days was at the Graystone Ballroom, a regal neo-Gothic structure up Woodward Avenue, the dividing line between White and Black Detroit. J. Lester Feder, Washington Post, 2 Feb. 2022 The pinnacle of the project is the brand-new Presidential Suite, which was a private apartment until now. Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 29 Jan. 2022 Perched on Prince Street in Soho, the eclectic home sits at the pinnacle of a five-unit co-op built in 1889 by Richard Berger. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 26 Aug. 2022 At the time of the concert, Franklin was at the pinnacle of her fame and power, with 20 albums and 5 Grammys under her belt. Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2022 Adrienne Schneider was at the pinnacle of her career. Alexa Mikhail, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2022 The dads have all spent time around the club this season, offering tips and sharing stories from decades at the pinnacle of the sport. CBS News, 5 Aug. 2022 Verb One father, two sons, all coaching their teams to pinnacle moments of their seasons. Matt Goul, cleveland, 19 Mar. 2021 At the start of 2015, Hollar's weight pinnacled at 678. Shari Rudavsky, Indianapolis Star, 4 Feb. 2018 See More Word History Etymology Noun Middle English pinacle, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin pinnaculum small wing, gable, from Latin pinna wing, battlement First Known Use Noun 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Verb 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Kids Definition pinnacle noun pin·na·cle ˈpi-nə-kəl 1 : the peak of a mountain 2 : the highest point of development or achievement Winning the award was the pinnacle of her career. 3 : a slender tower generally coming to a narrow point at the top pinnacle noun as in zenith the highest part or point a singer who has reached the pinnacle of success Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance zenith top peak culmination apex height climax apogee summit acme crest crown capstone crescendo sum meridian high noon highlight high-water mark noon tip-top noontime prime head glory high heyday ne plus ultra extreme roof ceiling flower cap extremity blossom bloom tip flood tide vertex highspot Antonyms & Near Antonyms bottom nadir base foot abyss minimum rock bottom See More Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of pinnacle are acme, apex, climax, culmination, peak, and summit. While all these words mean "the highest point attained or attainable," pinnacle suggests a dizzying and often insecure height. the pinnacle of worldly success Although the words acme and pinnacle have much in common, acme implies a level of quality representing the perfection of a thing. a statue that was once deemed the acme of beauty The meanings of apex and pinnacle largely overlap; however, apex implies the point where all ascending lines converge. the apex of Dutch culture The words climax and pinnacle are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, climax implies the highest point in an ascending series. the war was the climax to a series of hostile actions In some situations, the words culmination and pinnacle are roughly equivalent. However, culmination suggests the outcome of a growth or development representing an attained objective. the culmination of years of effort While the synonyms peak and pinnacle are close in meaning, peak suggests the highest among other high points. an artist working at the peak of her powers The words summit and pinnacle can be used in similar contexts, but summit implies the topmost level attainable. at the summit of the Victorian social scene
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pinnacle

noun

Illustration of pinnacle

verb

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

noun

noun

Synonym Chooser