Definition

1. Noun:

   • A high, pointed piece of rock, especially at the top of a mountain: A natural, often tall and sharp, peak.
   • The most successful or admired part of a system or achievement; the culmination: The highest point of development, fame, or success.
   • (Architecture) A small, slender, pointed structure on top of a building, buttress, or tower: A decorative stone ornament.

2. Verb:

   • To place on or as if on a pinnacle; to surmount: To set at the highest point.
   • (Architecture) To furnish with a pinnacle: To top with a slender, pointed structure.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The climbers finally reached the rocky pinnacle of the mountain.
  • Winning the award marked the pinnacle of her scientific career.
  • Gothic cathedrals are often adorned with stone pinnacles.

• Verb:

  • The statue was pinnacled on the dome of the capitol building.
  • The architect chose to pinnacle the buttress for aesthetic balance.

Advanced Usage

• "To be at the pinnacle of": To be at the highest point of something (e.g., power, success, achievement).

  • The company is at the pinnacle of the tech industry.

• "To reach the pinnacle": To achieve the highest possible level.

  • After decades of work, he reached the pinnacle of his profession.

Variants and Related Words

• Pinnacled (adj.): Furnished with or crowned by a pinnacle.
  • The pinnacled tower stood against the sky.

Synonyms

• Noun (for peak): Summit, apex, zenith, acme, peak, height, crown.
• Noun (for architectural feature): Spire, finial.
• Verb: Crown, top, cap, surmount.

Antonyms

• Noun: Nadir, bottom, base, depths.

Related Phrases

• "The pinnacle of perfection": The absolute highest standard of excellence.

  • Many consider that vintage to be the pinnacle of perfection for that wine.

• "To be pinnacled in fame": To be placed at the very top in terms of public recognition (a somewhat literary usage).

  • The revolutionary leader was pinnacled in fame by his followers.

Noun

1. a lofty peak
2. the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development
   • his landscapes were deemed the acme of beauty
   • the artist's gifts are at their acme
   • at the height of her career
   • the peak of perfection
   • summer was at its peak
   • ...catapulted Einstein to the pinnacle of fame
   • the summit of his ambition
   • so many highest superlatives achieved by man
   • at the top of his profession
3. (architecture) a slender upright spire at the top of a buttress of tower

Verb

1. raise on or as if on a pinnacle
   • He did not want to be pinnacled
2. surmount with a pinnacle
   • pinnacle a pediment