zenith Meaning & Definition
What Does Zenith Mean?
Zenith is a noun that means the point of the celestial sphere that is directly opposite the nadir and vertically above the observer see azimuth. It can also mean the highest point reached in the heavens by a celestial body.
Word Facts for Zenith
| Part of speech | noun |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈzē-nəth/ |
| Syllables | 2 |
| Synonyms | acme, apex and apogee |
| Antonyms | nadir, bottom and rock bottom |
| Plural | zeniths |
Zenith Definition (Noun)
- the point of the celestial sphere that is directly opposite the nadir and vertically above the observer see azimuth
- the highest point reached in the heavens by a celestial body
- culminating point : acme
… at the zenith of his powers …
Synonyms of Zenith
Antonyms of Zenith
Zenith in a Sentence
Winning the continental championship was the zenith of my career.
… at the zenith of his powers …
at the zenith of her career as a dancer
Word Forms & Grammar
zenith
zeniths
zenith (plural zeniths)
Origin of Zenith
Origin 1: Middle English cenyth, senyth, from Middle French cenit, from Medieval Latin, from Old Spanish zenit, modification of Arabic samt (al-ra's) way (over one's head)
Origin 2: From Middle English cenyth, from Medieval Latin cenit, from Arabic سَمْت (samt, “direction, path”), from the fuller form سَمْت اَلرَّأْس (samt ar-raʔs, “direction of the head”). The -ni- for -m- is sometimes thought to be due to a misreading of the three strokes, which is plausible, though it could be a mere phonetic approximation.
First Known Use
14th century
How to Pronounce Zenith
The standard pronunciation of zenith is /ˈzē-nəth/, spoken in 2 syllables, with the main stress on the first syllable (zē).
Questions People Ask About Zenith
What part of speech is zenith?
Zenith is a noun.
What is another word for zenith?
Words with a similar meaning to zenith include acme, apex and apogee. See the full list of zenith synonyms and antonyms.
What is the opposite of zenith?
Antonyms of zenith include nadir, bottom, rock bottom and abyss.
What is the plural of zenith?
The plural of zenith is zeniths.