apogee

noun

apo·gee ˈa-pə-(ˌ)jē How to pronounce apogee (audio)

: the point in the orbit of an object (such as a satellite) orbiting the earth that is at the greatest distance from the center of the earth

also : the point farthest from a planet or a satellite (such as the moon) reached by an object orbiting it compare perigee

: the farthest or highest point : culmination

Aegean civilization reached its apogee in Crete.

apogean

ˌa-pə-ˈjē-ən How to pronounce apogee (audio)

adjective

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Of Apogees, Climaxes, and Culminations

Apogee is often used in its figurative sense, signifying the high point of a career, endeavor, or state (“she was at the apogee of her profession”). This meaning developed as a metaphorical extension of the word’s astronomical sense, denoting the farthest distance from earth of an object orbiting the planet.

A number of other English words that are synonymous with apogee have followed a similar path of figurative development from a technical meaning. Climax (“the most interesting and exciting part of something”) came into English as a term for a series of phrases arranged in ascending order of rhetorical forcefulness. And, very much like apogee, culmination (“the final result of something”) is also rooted in astronomy: it originally referred to the highest point a celestial body reaches in its daily revolution (for example, the sun’s height at noon).

Example Sentences

shag carpeting reached the apogee of its popularity in the 1970s but is now considered outdated

Recent Examples on the Web Some of its members, such as Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch, appear willing to narrow or overturn most of the major precedents from the Warren Court era in the 1950s and 1960s, which was the apogee of liberal influence on the high court.

Matt Ford, The New Republic, 7 Apr. 2022 The suborbital launch on a Black Brant sounding rocket reached an apogee of 243 km.

Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 8 July 2022 When the moon reaches its closest point to Earth, this is called perigee; its furthest point from Earth is known as apogee.

Meghan Willcoxon, Journal Sentinel, 12 July 2022 The Spanish-language department of the BBC was then at its apogee, populated by luminaries from the expatriate community of Iberian writers and poets.

The New Yorker, 16 May 2022 The film marks the apogee of Eastwood and Leone spaghetti western cinema.

Josh St. Clair, Men's Health, 23 May 2022 Just remember that glass lenses, still the apogee of optics, are not meant for impact sports.

Mike Steere, Outside Online, 27 May 2022 In its understated way, this can be read as the apogee of the bildungsroman traced by Gunn’s poetic oeuvre, as the moment the occluded requires no agency to declare itself, and the closet is revealed without shame or obfuscation.

Mark Ford, The New York Review of Books, 25 May 2022 An annular eclipse in which the Moon was at the furthest point from Earth in its orbit (the apogee) would have been of particularly long duration.

Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 11 Apr. 2022 See More

单词	apogee
释义	apogee noun apo·gee ˈa-pə-(ˌ)jē 1 : the point in the orbit of an object (such as a satellite) orbiting the earth that is at the greatest distance from the center of the earth also : the point farthest from a planet or a satellite (such as the moon) reached by an object orbiting it compare perigee 2 : the farthest or highest point : culmination Aegean civilization reached its apogee in Crete. apogean ˌa-pə-ˈjē-ən adjective Illustration of apogee apogee 1 Did you know? Of Apogees, Climaxes, and Culminations Apogee is often used in its figurative sense, signifying the high point of a career, endeavor, or state (“she was at the apogee of her profession”). This meaning developed as a metaphorical extension of the word’s astronomical sense, denoting the farthest distance from earth of an object orbiting the planet. A number of other English words that are synonymous with apogee have followed a similar path of figurative development from a technical meaning. Climax (“the most interesting and exciting part of something”) came into English as a term for a series of phrases arranged in ascending order of rhetorical forcefulness. And, very much like apogee, culmination (“the final result of something”) is also rooted in astronomy: it originally referred to the highest point a celestial body reaches in its daily revolution (for example, the sun’s height at noon). Synonyms acme apex capstone climax crescendo crest crown culmination head height high noon high-water mark meridian ne plus ultra noon noontime peak pinnacle sum summit tip-top top zenith See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences shag carpeting reached the apogee of its popularity in the 1970s but is now considered outdated Recent Examples on the Web Some of its members, such as Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch, appear willing to narrow or overturn most of the major precedents from the Warren Court era in the 1950s and 1960s, which was the apogee of liberal influence on the high court. Matt Ford, The New Republic, 7 Apr. 2022 The suborbital launch on a Black Brant sounding rocket reached an apogee of 243 km. Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 8 July 2022 When the moon reaches its closest point to Earth, this is called perigee; its furthest point from Earth is known as apogee. Meghan Willcoxon, Journal Sentinel, 12 July 2022 The Spanish-language department of the BBC was then at its apogee, populated by luminaries from the expatriate community of Iberian writers and poets. The New Yorker, 16 May 2022 The film marks the apogee of Eastwood and Leone spaghetti western cinema. Josh St. Clair, Men's Health, 23 May 2022 Just remember that glass lenses, still the apogee of optics, are not meant for impact sports. Mike Steere, Outside Online, 27 May 2022 In its understated way, this can be read as the apogee of the bildungsroman traced by Gunn’s poetic oeuvre, as the moment the occluded requires no agency to declare itself, and the closet is revealed without shame or obfuscation. Mark Ford, The New York Review of Books, 25 May 2022 An annular eclipse in which the Moon was at the furthest point from Earth in its orbit (the apogee) would have been of particularly long duration. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 11 Apr. 2022 See More Word History Etymology French apogée, from New Latin apogaeum, from Greek apogaion, from neuter of apogeios, apogaios far from the earth, from apo- + gē, gaia earth First Known Use 1640, in the meaning defined at sense 2 apogee noun as in zenith the highest part or point shag carpeting reached the apogee of its popularity in the 1970s but is now considered outdated Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance zenith pinnacle culmination height peak top apex climax acme meridian crescendo summit crest capstone noon crown sum high noon noontime highlight high-water mark heyday prime tip-top head glory ne plus ultra high extreme blossom bloom extremity flower ceiling roof cap vertex flood tide tip highspot Antonyms & Near Antonyms nadir bottom base foot abyss minimum rock bottom See More
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apogee

noun

Illustration of apogee

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Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

noun