French Conversation · Level 22
90 words
French word
culminer
Pronunciation
IPA/kylmine/
Meaning
- verbpeak
Example
La fête culmine ce soir.
The party peaks tonight.
More examples
Sa carrière culmine au sommet.
His career culminates at its peak.
Core concept
A rising curve that ends at its highest point, whether for an event, a process, or a success.
Common phrases
culminer au sommet de sa carrière
culminate at the height of one's career
Similar words
arriver: To happen or take place.
atteindre: To reach a particular point or level.
parvenir: To achieve a desired state through effort.
aboutir: To result in a particular outcome.
Definition in French
Évoluer ou aboutir jusqu'à atteindre le degré le plus élevé d'intensité, d'importance ou de succès.
Word origin
French culminer comes from Latin culminare, based on culmen, meaning 'summit', which accounts for its sense of reaching a highest point.
Usage tips
- Culminer is usually intransitive; culminer à introduces a level or number, while culminer en introduces an outcome.