culminated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "culminated" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something has reached its highest point or climax, often after a period of development or progression. Example: "The project culminated in a successful launch event that showcased our hard work and dedication."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was the rotting Ottoman remains that the British occupied (a big eye on the oil) and started modernising (that Blairish word) after the first world war, with largely unsuccessful results that culminated in Saddam Hussein, from a pro-Nazi clan in Tikrit, a city now occupied by Isis.

The Guardian

Her research on terrorism and its causes culminated in her acclaimed 2006 book What Terrorists Want, described by the New York Times as an "essential primer on terrorism and how to tackle it".

The Guardian

It all culminated in two metal-framed circular dance floors, of which the latter played the hardest, most annoying techno I have ever heard.

The Guardian - Music

The relationship began dissolving horribly and culminated in Van Gogh slicing off part of his ear.

The Guardian - Arts

His output was astonishing for an artist of any age: from thousands of tiny doodles on his iPhone and then iPad to behemoth landscapes of the Wolds, notably the 40ft by 15ft Bigger Trees Near Warter, which culminated in a triumphant survey at the Royal Academy in 2012.

The Guardian - Arts

That intimacy ended after the tripartite model of economic management – government, business and unions – fatally hit the buffers in the winter of discontent (the piles of rubbish much exaggerated in The Iron Lady movie) and led to the Thatcher counter-revolution of 1979, which culminated in the defeat of Arthur Scargill's foolhardy strategy for the 1983-84 minerstrikeike.

The Guardian

Rodgers had been under pressure after a dismal end to the season that culminated in a 6-1 loss at Stoke City, no silverware for the third year of his reign and failure to qualify for the Champions League, despite a £117m investment in new players.

The Guardian - Sport

The shock of Labour's inner circle form part of the most complete account of Ed Miliband's five-year leadership, which culminated in a disastrous election night that saw the party lose 26 seats and achieve 30.4% of the vote, while the Conservatives achieved an overall majority.

The Guardian

"We believe that the work that the commission conducted during the course of almost three years, which culminated in this report, was thorough, careful and meticulous.

The Guardian

The only goal of the second half was a lovely combined effort that culminated in a classy finish by Wayne Routledge.

The Guardian - Sport

Following the fire on March 16, the kingdom declared a week of mourning that culminated in prayers on Friday.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "culminated" to emphasize that a final result was reached after a process of gradual development. For example, "The research culminated in a groundbreaking discovery."

Common error

Avoid using "culminated" to describe events that happen suddenly without prior build-up. For example, it's incorrect to say, "The argument culminated in a shout" if the argument was short and lacked prior tension. Instead, opt for "resulted in" or "ended with."

Linguistic Context

The verb "culminated" functions to indicate that something reached its highest point or final result after a period of development. Examples found by Ludwig, underscore its usage in various contexts to denote the completion of a process.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

33%

Science

32%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "culminated" is a verb indicating that something reached its final, often significant, outcome after a period of development. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and widely used. It is most frequently found in news, business, and scientific contexts and functions to emphasize the result of a process. While grammatically correct, it should not be used for sudden events without build-up. Alternatives like "ended in" or "resulted in" may be more appropriate in certain situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reached its climax

Replaces the verb with a phrase emphasizing the peak or most intense point.

climaxed with

Focuses specifically on the final, most exciting or important event.

came to fruition

Focuses on the realization of a plan or project, highlighting the successful result.

ended in

A simpler, more direct way of stating the final outcome or result.

resulted in

Highlights the cause-and-effect relationship leading to the final outcome.

concluded with

Emphasizes the act of bringing something to a close with a specific event or action.

peaked at

Similar to 'reached its climax', but can also refer to a high point in a measurement or statistic.

finished with

A more casual and less formal way of saying something came to an end.

terminated in

A more formal way to describe the ending, often used in technical or legal contexts.

materialized as

Highlights the tangible outcome or form that something took after a period of development.

FAQs

How can I use "culminated" in a sentence?

The word "culminated" is used to describe the end or final result of a process or event, typically after a period of development. For example: "The project "culminated" in a successful product launch."

What can I say instead of "culminated"?

You can use alternatives like "ended in", "resulted in", or "reached its climax" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "culminated in" or "culminated at"?

"Culminated in" is generally more appropriate when referring to a final outcome or result. "Culminated at" might be used when referring to a specific location or point, but it's less common.

What's the difference between "culminated" and "concluded"?

"Culminated" implies a gradual process leading to a final, often significant, outcome, while "concluded" simply means to bring something to an end. "Culminated" suggests a climax or high point, whereas "concluded" is more neutral. You can say the negotiations "concluded with" an agreement, or that the efforts of the team "culminated" in a successful product launch.