culminates

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "culminates" is correct and usable in written English.
It is an verb, and you can use it to describe the state of reaching the highest or most extreme point of development or tension. For example, "The story culminates with a heart-stopping finale."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In this week's episode we see a couple of good examples: the show starts with the tiny Donut driving another stolen car – always comic – but that scene culminates in the malevolent Officer Walker breaking his fingers.

The Guardian

He announced his intention to resign as the province began a week than culminates in Saturday night's deadline for saving the devolved government at Stormont.

The Guardian

As he delivers the punchline, the 77-year-old Hockney howls like he's heard it for the first time: a throaty roar that culminates in a hard-earned smoker's wheeze.

The Guardian - Arts

But, as Ian Rickson, artistic director of the Royal Court, points out, the tourist-magnet West End theatres depend on the impoverished regional ones to nurture and supply actors, directors and writers.Predictably enough, this line of argument culminates in a plea for more subsidies for regional theatres.

The Economist

The effort culminates in the gaokao, the national college-entrance exam that determines which, if any, university the youngster can get into.What makes life even harder for Chinese women is that most Chinese men still expect them to look after home and family more or less single-handed, whether or not they are holding down a job.

The Economist

For two bars he maintains his previous beat; in the third he delays a snare hit, agitating the groove slightly; and in the fourth he leaves the first beat empty, following up with a brief syncopated pattern that culminates in an unexpectedly early cymbal crash, heralding the band's re-entry".Amen, Brother" lay dormant for almost two decades.

The Economist

A cargo of exploitable souls An atomic Augean stable The hottest convoy After coal, tourists Where gumshoes fear to tread ReprintsThe town holds a number of historical re-enactments, including one of the massacre and a four-day Hatfield-McCoy reunion, held jointly with the nearby towns of Williamson, West Virginia, and Pikeville, Kentucky, which culminates in a tug of war.

The Economist

So does the plot— a power-hungry son, prodded by turbulent ghosts and vaulting ambition, seeks to to make his mark as the new head of state.A blend of palace farce and political shenanigans culminates in a standoff with parliament in "King Charles III" at the Almeida theatre in London.

The Economist

That homecoming culminates in the moment he stands in the room where he was born; when he can say, "I was born here," not there.

The Economist

This excitement culminates half-way through the book, when J.T. lets him assume some gang duties for the day (hence the book's over-dramatic title).Mr Venkatesh soon grows nervous of getting too close, yet J.T. continues to be his best source.

The Economist

This process culminates in a report card sent home at the end of every semester.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "culminates" to indicate the natural or logical conclusion of a process, event, or series of actions. It often suggests a sense of importance or significance to the ending.

Common error

Avoid using "culminates" when a simpler word like "ends" or "finishes" would suffice. "Culminates" implies a high point or significant conclusion, not just any ending.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "culminates" is as an intransitive verb, indicating the reaching of a final or climactic stage. This is consistent with Ludwig AI's assessment and the provided examples, where it describes the end point of a process or event. For example, the effort culminates in the gaokao.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Encyclopedias

15%

Science

46%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "culminates" is a grammatically correct and frequently used verb that effectively conveys the idea of reaching a significant final point or climax. As noted by Ludwig AI, it describes reaching the highest or most extreme point of development or tension. Analysis of usage patterns reveals that it is commonly found in news, encyclopedias, and science contexts, indicating a formal to neutral register. To enhance your writing, remember to use "culminates" when you wish to emphasize the importance or significance of the ending and avoid using it for simple or insignificant endings. Understanding these nuances will help you leverage the power of "culminates" to add depth and precision to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reaches its peak

Emphasizes the highest point achieved rather than the conclusion of a process.

comes to a head

Implies a critical point or crisis being reached.

ends in

Focuses on the final result or outcome.

results in

Highlights the consequence or effect of a process.

climax occurs

Specifically refers to the high point in a narrative or series of events.

reaches its conclusion

More formal and emphasizes the end of a process or event.

achieves fruition

Emphasizes the realization of a desired outcome or goal.

is finalized

Focuses on the act of making something complete or definite.

wraps up

More informal way of saying something has come to an end.

tops off

Implies adding a finishing touch or a final element.

FAQs

How to use "culminates" in a sentence?

Use "culminates" to describe the final, often most important or impressive, point in a process. For example, "The project culminates in a final presentation".

What can I say instead of "culminates"?

You can use alternatives like "reaches its peak", "comes to a head", or "ends in" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say 'culminates to' instead of 'culminates in'?

No, the correct preposition to use with "culminates" is "in". Therefore, "culminates in" is the accurate and preferred phrasing. Saying "culminates to" is grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "culminates" and "concludes"?

"Culminates" implies a final, significant point, often the climax of a series of events, while "concludes" simply means to bring to an end. "Culminates" suggests a high point, while "concludes" is more neutral. Think of "concludes" as ending and "culminates" as climaxing.