apex

noun
\ ˈā-ˌpeks How to pronounce apex (audio) \
plural apexes or apices\ ˈā-​pə-​ˌsēz How to pronounce apices (audio) , ˈa-​ \

Definition of apex

1a : the uppermost point : vertex the apex of a mountain
b : the narrowed or pointed end : tip the apex of the tongue
2 : the highest or culminating point the apex of his career
3 : the point of sharpest curvature in a path (such as that followed by a turning vehicle) a driver hitting the apex as he races around a corner At the apex of the turn his rear wheels apparently came unstuck from the oil-drenched groove.— Robert F. Jones

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Choose the Right Synonym for apex

summit, peak, pinnacle, climax, apex, acme, culmination mean the highest point attained or attainable. summit implies the topmost level attainable. at the summit of the Victorian social scene peak suggests the highest among other high points. an artist working at the peak of her powers pinnacle suggests a dizzying and often insecure height. the pinnacle of worldly success climax implies the highest point in an ascending series. the war was the climax to a series of hostile actions apex implies the point where all ascending lines converge. the apex of Dutch culture acme implies a level of quality representing the perfection of a thing. a statue that was once deemed the acme of beauty culmination suggests the outcome of a growth or development representing an attained objective. the culmination of years of effort

Did You Know?

Apex entered English from Latin, where it originally meant "a small rod at the top of a flamen's cap." What's a flamen's cap? Flamens were priests who devoted themselves to serving just one of the many ancient Roman gods (for instance, just Jupiter or Mars). Those priests wore distinctive conical caps that English speakers dubbed "flamen's caps." Sixteenth- and seventeenth-century dramatist Ben Jonson was one of the few English writers known to have used "apex" in its flamen's-cap sense: "Upon his head a hat of delicate wool, whose top ended in a cone, and was thence called apex."

Examples of apex in a Sentence

she reached the apex of fame, only to find it wasn't what she expected the apex of the spear

Recent Examples on the Web

Lake trout are native to Lake Superior and are about the apex predator in the lake. John Myers, Twin Cities, "Monster lake trout released near Duluth might have been a state record," 12 Aug. 2019 The most famous radiodont is the free-swimming Anomalocaris, the Cambrian’s iconic meter-long apex predator. Joshua Sokol, Science | AAAS, "‘Millennium Falcon’ predator soared across ocean floor at dawn of animal life," 30 July 2019 Those were the days before the Galacticos and Muñoz joined a side teasing the relegation zone before the arrival of near-mythical heroes like Di Stefano, Ferenc Puskas and Paco Gento who lifted them to the apex of the sport. SI.com, "Miguel Muñoz: The Man Who Told Alfredo Di Stefano to F*ck Off & Led the Ye-Ye's to European Glory," 25 July 2019 At 10 feet 7 inches from the base to the apex and 12 feet 10 inches around at the base, the entire spacecraft allotted just 210 cubic feet of living space inside. Alex Hollings, Popular Mechanics, "The Art of the Return Trip: How NASA Got Apollo 11 Home," 24 July 2019 The apex predator now has her own Raptor Encounter holding pen nearby. Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, "The real stars of 'Jurassic World - The Ride' are the freakily lifelike roaming dinosaurs," 23 July 2019 In 2017, YouTuber CassOnline climbed from the viewing platform to the apex and a group of Greenpeace activists scaled the building to protest oil drilling in the Arctic in 2013. Fox News, "Daredevil in London scales The Shard, one of Europe's tallest buildings," 9 July 2019 The concert ended up being the Woodstock & Art Fair, aka Woodstock, held Aug. 15 - 19, 1969, the most iconic music festival ever, and often hailed as the hippie era’s apex. Matt Wake | Mwake@al.com, al, "Woodstock photographer talks Hendrix, hippies, Janis," 25 July 2019 Just like Beckham was brought in to help elevate Baker Mayfield’s game to a new level, Vernon is here to help Garrett reach his apex as a pass rusher. Dan Labbe, cleveland.com, "Will Olivier Vernon be effective from the left side? Cleveland Browns 19 questions," 10 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'apex.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of apex

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

History and Etymology for apex

Latin

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More Definitions for apex

apex

noun

English Language Learners Definition of apex

: the top or highest point of something

apex

noun
\ ˈā-ˌpeks How to pronounce apex (audio) \
plural apexes or apices\ ˈā-​pə-​ˌsēz \

Kids Definition of apex

1 : the highest point : peak “She's on top of the roof, walking with a foot either side of the apex …”— Brian Jacques, Redwall
2 : the most successful time He was at the apex of his career.