summit
SUM-it
/ˈsʌmɪt/
The highest point of a hill or mountain; or, a meeting between heads of government.
In recreation, it refers to the physical peak. In politics, it refers to the 'peak' of authority.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'summus,' meaning 'highest.' It originally referred to the top of a mountain but was extended to describe high-level diplomatic meetings in the mid-20th century.
Word relationships
- peak: Peak is more general; summit often implies the very highest point reached after a struggle.
- pinnacle: Pinnacle often refers to a pointed piece of rock or a metaphorical high point of a career.
- base: The lowest part or bottom of a mountain.
- nadir: The lowest point of anything (usually metaphorical).
Commonly confused with
- crest: A crest is the top of a ridge or a wave, while a summit is the highest point of a mountain.
Word family
- summitry (noun): The holding of summit meetings, especially in diplomacy.
Collocations
- mountain summit
- reach the summit
- summit meeting
- summit attempt
Example sentences
- "After twelve hours of climbing, they finally reached the summit of Mount Everest." Mountaineering achievement.
- "The G7 summit was held in France to discuss global economic stability." Political meeting.
Memory hook
SUM-it up: The summit is where you add up all your effort to reach the top. The 'sum' of the mountain.
When not to use
Don't use it for the top of a ladder or a small household object.
Fun facts
- Winston Churchill is credited with first using 'summit' to describe a meeting of world leaders in 1950.
Related words
Explore more words
negotiate, topography, prominence, convoke, mountainous, sovereign
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