Summit

/ˈsʌmɪt/ name, noun, pron, verb, slang

name, noun, pron, verb, slang ·Very common ·Middle school level

Meaning at a glance

  • Primary sense: The topmost point or surface of a thing; the apex, the peak.; The highest point of a hill, mountain, or similar geographical feature.
  • Grammar: summit is listed as name, noun, pron, verb, slang.
  • Nearest alternatives: crest, peak, top, apex.
  • Useful contrasts: base, base a lesson, base your argument.
  • Usage evidence: Make one more effort and you will reach the summit.

How to use "summit"

  1. Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
  2. Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "summit" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
  3. Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.

Meaning check

  • Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
  • Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
  • Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
  • Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?

Source and review context

This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "summit" in a final draft.

If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.

Before you rely on this definition

Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "summit" as the right word for your sentence.

If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "summit" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.

Compare nearby meanings

  • Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
  • Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
  • Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
  • Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.

Definition decision workflow

1. Identify the role

Check whether "summit" is acting as name, noun, pron, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.

2. Test the nearest option

Compare it with "crest" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.

3. Confirm with context

Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.

Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.

Final meaning check

Before publishing a sentence with "summit", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.

When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    The topmost point or surface of a thing; the apex, the peak.; The highest point of a hill, mountain, or similar geographical feature.

    "In summer, it is possible to hike to the summit of Mount Shasta."

  2. 2
    a meeting of heads of governments wordnet
  3. 3
    The topmost point or surface of a thing; the apex, the peak.; A vertex of a polygon or polyhedron.
  4. 4
    the top or extreme point of something (usually a mountain or hill) wordnet
  5. 5
    The topmost point or surface of a thing; the apex, the peak.; The highest point of a canal, railway, road, etc.
Show 6 more definitions
  1. 6
    the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development wordnet
  2. 7
    The topmost point or surface of a thing; the apex, the peak.; Synonym of anther (“the pollen-bearing part of the stamen of a flower”) or (rare) stigma (“the sticky part of a flower that receives pollen during pollination”). obsolete
  3. 8
    The topmost point or surface of a thing; the apex, the peak.; One of the two vertices of a crystal with a rhombohedral shape where the angles of each face are equal; also, the highest point of a crystal with a pyramidal or tetrahedral shape. obsolete, rare
  4. 9
    The highest point of achievement, development, etc., that can be reached; the acme, the pinnacle. figuratively
  5. 10
    The highest level of political leadership. archaic, figuratively
  6. 11
    An assembly or gathering of the leaders of countries to discuss issues of international significance; also (loosely), an important or high-level gathering or meeting. broadly, figuratively

    "They met for an international summit on environmental issues."

Verb
  1. 1
    To reach the summit (noun etymology 1 sense 1.1) of (a mountain). informal, transitive

    "Of the range's 12 peaks, Mount Saskatchewan is the only one that has yet to be summited."

  2. 2
    reach the summit (of a mountain) wordnet
  3. 3
    To reach the summit of a mountain. informal, intransitive
  4. 4
    To attend a summit (noun etymology 1 sense 2.2.2). intransitive

    "If the Soviet leaders could go on summiting with the US while bombs poured on North Vietnam and yet claim that they had nothing but the best interests of the Vietnamese revolution in mind, there seems precious little reason to cry wolf at Peking-Bonn relations."

Pronoun
  1. 1
    Alternative spelling of summat (“something”). England, Yorkshire, alt-of, alternative, informal

    "I need to get summit to eat."

Proper Noun
  1. 1
    A surname. countable, uncountable
  2. 2
    A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Blount County, Alabama. countable, uncountable
  3. 3
    A number of places in the United States:; A census-designated place in Pima County, Arizona. countable, uncountable
  4. 4
    A number of places in the United States:; A minor city in Marion County, Arkansas. countable, uncountable
  5. 5
    A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Santa Cruz County and Santa Clara County, California. countable, uncountable
Show 23 more definitions
  1. 6
    A number of places in the United States:; A village in Cook County, Illinois. countable, uncountable
  2. 7
    A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Smithfield Township, DeKalb County, Indiana. countable, uncountable
  3. 8
    A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Stockton Township, Greene County, Indiana, named after the old Summit Mine. countable, uncountable
  4. 9
    A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Hendricks County, Indiana. countable, uncountable
  5. 10
    A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in LaPorte County, Indiana. countable, uncountable
  6. 11
    A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Boyd County, Kentucky. countable, uncountable
  7. 12
    A number of places in the United States:; A town in Pike County, Mississippi. countable, uncountable
  8. 13
    A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Washington County, Missouri. countable, uncountable
  9. 14
    A number of places in the United States:; A city in Union County, New Jersey. countable, uncountable
  10. 15
    A number of places in the United States:; A town in Schoharie County, New York, named for Mount Wharton nearby. countable, uncountable
  11. 16
    A number of places in the United States:; A town in Muskogee County, Oklahoma. countable, uncountable
  12. 17
    A number of places in the United States:; A census-designated place in Benton County, Oregon. countable, uncountable
  13. 18
    A number of places in the United States:; A village in the town of Coventry, Kent County, Rhode Island. countable, uncountable
  14. 19
    A number of places in the United States:; A town in Lexington County, South Carolina. countable, uncountable
  15. 20
    A number of places in the United States:; A town in Roberts County, South Dakota. countable, uncountable
  16. 21
    A number of places in the United States:; A census-designated place in Iron County, Utah, situated on a divide. countable, uncountable
  17. 22
    A number of places in the United States:; A census-designated place in Pierce County, Washington. countable, uncountable
  18. 23
    A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Wood County, West Virginia. countable, uncountable
  19. 24
    A number of places in the United States:; A town in Douglas County, Wisconsin. countable, uncountable
  20. 25
    A number of places in the United States:; A town in Juneau County, Wisconsin. countable, uncountable
  21. 26
    A number of places in the United States:; A town in Langlade County, Wisconsin. countable, uncountable
  22. 27
    A number of places in the United States:; A village in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. countable, uncountable
  23. 28
    A number of places in the United States:; A number of townships in the United States, listed under Summit Township. countable, uncountable

Synonyms

All synonyms
crestpeaktopapexcrownheight

Antonyms

basebase a lessonbase your argumentdescend

Example

"Make one more effort and you will reach the summit."

Common questions

What does "summit" mean?

The topmost point or surface of a thing; the apex, the peak.; The highest point of a hill, mountain, or similar geographical feature.

What is a synonym for "summit"?

Common synonyms include: crest, peak, top, apex, crown, height.

How do you use "summit" in a sentence?

Make one more effort and you will reach the summit.

How do you pronounce "summit"?

Pronounced /ˈsʌmɪt/.

Etymology

Etymology 1

PIE word *upó The noun is derived from Late Middle English somet, somete (“head, top”) [and other forms], from Anglo-Norman sumet and Middle French sommet (masculine), somete, sommette (“top of a thing; highest point of a mountain”) (feminine) (modern French sommet), from Old French somet, sommette, from som, sum (“highest point, summit”) + -et (suffix forming diminutive masculine nouns), -ete, -ette (suffix forming diminutive feminine nouns). Som, sum are derived from Latin summum (“top, summit”), a noun use of the neuter of summus (“greatest, highest; top, uppermost”, adjective) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *upér (“over”) + *-m̥mos, *-tm̥mos (“suffix forming superlative adjectives”)). The modern English spelling was influenced by summity (“height or top of a thing; utmost degree, perfection”) (obsolete). The verb is derived from the noun.

Etymology 2

A variant of summat.

Etymology 3

Unknown origin for the surname. In place names, it usually represents a point of high elevation, perhaps the highest in the area.

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Synonyms

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