summit
SUH-miht
Summit (noun) means the highest point of a mountain or hill. Example: “They reached the summit just before sunrise.”
noun
1
The highest point of a mountain or hill.
"They reached the summit just before sunrise."
"Snow covers the summit even in July."
"From the summit, we could see the whole valley and the river below."
2
A meeting between top leaders of different countries or organizations to discuss major issues.
"World leaders gathered for a climate summit in Geneva."
"The two presidents will hold a summit next month to discuss trade."
"Journalists waited outside the hotel where the summit was taking place."
verb
1
To reach the top of a mountain.
"The climbers summited just as the storm rolled in."
"It took us six hours to summit the mountain from the base camp."
"She dreams of summiting the highest peak in the country one day."
How to use summit
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe very top — of a mountain, or of political power, as in a high-level meeting.
Common pairings
reach the summit
a peace summit
summit meeting
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Word forms
- Plural
- summits
- Third person singular
- summits
- Past tense
- summited, summitted
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They reached the _____ just before sunrise.
Etymology
From Old French somet/sommet, a diminutive of som ("highest point"), ultimately from Latin summus ("highest").
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “summit” mean?
The word “summit” means the highest point of a mountain or hill. In plain terms, the very top — of a mountain, or of political power, as in a high-level meeting.
How do you pronounce “summit”?
“Summit” is pronounced SUH-miht (/ˈsʌmət/ in IPA).
How do you use “summit” in a sentence?
Here is “summit” used in a sentence: “They reached the summit just before sunrise.”
What is another word for “summit”?
Words with a similar meaning to “summit” include apex, apogee, crest, crown, culmen and fastigium.
What is the opposite of “summit”?
The opposite of “summit” — its antonyms — are base, foundation, nadir and trough.
What part of speech is “summit”?
Depending on how it is used, “summit” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “summit” come from?
The word “summit” comes from Latin. From Old French somet/sommet, a diminutive of som ("highest point"), ultimately from Latin summus ("highest").
Is “summit” a common word?
“Summit” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between a summit and a peak?
Both refer to the top of a mountain, but 'summit' specifically names the single highest point you reach. 'Peak' can describe the pointed top of a mountain or the whole mountain seen as a pointed mass, so a mountain may have several peaks but one summit.
Why is a meeting of leaders called a summit?
A summit meeting borrows the image of the highest point: it is a gathering of the top leaders of different countries or organisations to discuss major issues. The word conveys that the most senior people, at the 'top' of their governments, are the ones meeting.
What words commonly go with 'summit'?
In the mountain sense you often see 'reach the summit', 'summit push', and 'summit ridge'. In the political sense, common pairings include 'summit meeting', 'peace summit', 'climate summit', and 'hold a summit'.
Is 'summit' the same as 'climax'?
They both suggest a highest point, but a summit is a literal or figurative top, especially of a mountain or a hierarchy. A 'climax' is the most intense or decisive moment in a sequence of events, so a story reaches a climax while a climber reaches a summit.
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