pinnacle

Language: en

🇺🇸 /ˈpɪnəkəl/

📖 Definitions

  1. noun
    The highest point or peak of a mountain, rock, or other elevated structure.; The most successful or highest point of achievement, development, or power.; A small ornamental turret or spire on top of a buttress, tower, or other part of a Gothic building.
  2. verb
    To set on or as if on a pinnacle; to elevate to a high position.; To form a pinnacle or peak-like shape.

🔗 Details

Word forms

countable Plural: pinnacles 3rd sing.: pinnacles Past: pinnacled Past part.: pinnacled Pres part.: pinnacling

Collocations

reach the pinnacleat the pinnacle ofpinnacle of successpinnacle of achievementpinnacle of one's careerpinnacle of power

Derivatives

pinnacledpinnacular

Synonyms

peaksummitapexzenithacmecrestclimax

Antonyms

bottombasenadirfoot

Commonly confused

summit
EN: 'Summit' typically refers to the physical top of a mountain or a high-level meeting; 'pinnacle' is more often used figuratively for the highest point of achievement or success.
zenith
EN: 'Zenith' originally refers to the point directly overhead in astronomy; 'pinnacle' refers to a pointed peak or the highest level of something.
apex
EN: 'Apex' emphasizes the geometric tip or turning point; 'pinnacle' emphasizes the highest point of achievement or a pointed structure.

Spelling tips

EN: Remember 'pinnacle' has double 'n' and ends in '-cle', not '-cal' or '-kel'. A common misspelling is 'pinacle'.

💬 Examples

  1. The climbers reached the pinnacle of the mountain just before sunset.

  2. She had reached the pinnacle of her career as a world-renowned surgeon.

  3. The cathedral's flying buttresses were crowned with intricately carved pinnacles.

  4. Fame had pinnacled him above all his contemporaries.

  5. The ice pinnacled along the ridge in jagged formations.