Definition

1. Noun:

   • The highest point of a hill or mountain: The peak or topmost part of a natural elevation.
   • The highest attainable level of achievement or ambition: The pinnacle or climax of a process, career, or aspiration.
   • A meeting between heads of government: A high-level conference, especially one involving the top leaders of different nations.

2. Verb:

   • To reach the summit of a mountain: To climb to the highest point of a mountain.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • After a grueling climb, they finally stood on the summit of the mountain.
  • Winning the Nobel Prize was the summit of her scientific career.
  • World leaders gathered for an emergency summit on climate change.

• Verb:

  • Only experienced climbers should attempt to summit Mount Everest.

Advanced Usage

• "To reach a summit": To achieve the highest point or level of something, either literally or figuratively.
  • The negotiations have reached a summit, and a final agreement is near.
• "Summit diplomacy": Diplomatic activities conducted at the level of heads of state or government.
  • The crisis was resolved through intense summit diplomacy.

Variants and Related Words

• Summitry (n): The practice or process of conducting high-level meetings between government leaders.
  • The era of Cold War summitry was characterized by tense meetings between superpowers.

Synonyms

• Noun: Peak, pinnacle, apex, zenith, acme, climax, top.
• Verb: To climb, to scale, to conquer (a peak).

Related Phrases

• "At the summit of one's powers": Operating at one's highest level of ability or skill.
  • The composer wrote this symphony while at the summit of his powers.
• "Summit meeting/talks": A meeting or series of discussions held at the highest level of leadership.
  • The summit talks focused on trade and security issues.

Noun

1. a meeting of heads of governments
2. the top or extreme point of something (usually a mountain or hill)
   • the view from the peak was magnificent
   • they clambered to the tip of Monadnock
   • the region is a few molecules wide at the summit
3. 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

Verb

1. reach the summit (of a mountain)
   • They breasted the mountain
   • Many mountaineers go up Mt. Everest but not all summit