Zenith
Careers, fireworks, and the sun on June afternoons all invite this metaphor for the top of the arc.
Learn This WordMeaning
The highest point; the peak of success, power, or influence; (astronomy) the point directly overhead.
Memory trick
ZENITH = highest point, think "zen" at the top of the mountain (metaphorically).
Examples
The band was at its zenith in the late 1990s.
At the zenith of his career, he chose to step back and teach.
The sun reaches its zenith at noon in many latitudes.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
From Old French cenit, from Arabic samt "path," misunderstood in medieval Latin as zenith.
Usage Notes
Pairs naturally with "nadir" for rise-and-fall narratives. Often used metaphorically.
Real-life contexts
Use for careers: "That role was the zenith of her public service."
Use for markets: "We may be past the zenith of growth."
Use for stories: "Act II is the zenith before the fall."
Common Mistakes
Zenith is a noun, not a verb. Don’t say "zenithing."
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Start LearningQuick Facts
Part of Speech
noun
Difficulty
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