Make Your Point > Archived Issues > APEX
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pronounce
APEX:
Say it "AY pex."
To hear it, click here.
connect this word to others:
With thanks to Wikipedia for the picture, here's the observation tower that sits at the apex--the very tip-top--of Clingman's Dome, the highest point in the state of Tennessee.
So, we're basically looking at Tennessee's apex here: its peak, its summit, its very top, its highest point, its z_____. Could you recall that last word?
(To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.)
definition:
We took "apex" straight from Latin, with its meaning and spelling intact.
An apex is the very tip of something, the very top of something. In other words, an apex is a peak, a summit, or a highest part of something.
grammatical bits:
Part of speech:
Noun, the countable kind: "Her career is at its apex."
Other forms:
The plural is usually just "apexes," but if you prefer, you can get fancy and say "apices" (pronounced either "AY puh sees" or "APP uh sees").
The adjective is "apical," pronounced either "AY pick ull" or "APP ick ull."
And the adverb is "apically."
Closely related is the cute little word "apiculus," meaning "little apex." Say it "uh PICK you luss."
how to use it:
Compared to words like "tip," "top," and "peak," the word "apex" has a more serious, formal tone.
And because we often talk about apex predators--powerful animals that sit at the top of the food chain, fearing nothing and eating anything--the word "apex" can have a harsh, sharp, aggressive tone.
We might talk literally about the apex of an arch, a roof, a pyramid, an island, or any other physical item.
But often, we talk figuratively about something or someone being at (or on) the apex of a period of time, like a career, a trend, a phase, a movement, a long event, a crisis, etc. "The country is on the apex of the pandemic (Seattle Times)."
examples:
"The building was designed in the 1860s by George Gilbert Scott. Here, I'm standing on his ornate staircase, looking up at that dome, which depicts 20 female figures representing nations that had diplomatic relations with Britain at that time. The apex shows the night sky with stars and the constellations."
— Carole Mundell, Nature, 6 April 2020
"Uber and Lyft were at their apex, flush with cash and riding a wave of optimism about Silicon Valley's ability to change the world."
— Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 11 September 2019
has this page helped you understand "apex"?
study it:
Explain the meaning of "apex" without saying "peak" or "pinnacle."
try it out:
This article describes "how Disney became entertainment's apex predator." In other words, somehow Disney clawed its way to the very top of the entertainment industry, like a powerful species with no natural enemies.
See if you can give another example of a person or company that seems to be an apex predator: one that sits at the very top of the industry, with the most power and the most ferocity.
before you review, play:
Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.
Our game for November is "SpongeBob Shakespeare."
Check out the goofy quote below. Is it from SpongeBob Squarepants, or is it a modern-English version of a quote from Shakespeare?
I'll list the answer at the bottom of each issue. Enjoy!
Try this one today:
"Well maybe it is stupid, but it's also dumb!"
review this word:
A. LOWEST-LEVEL.
B. WORST-DRESSED.
C. HIGHEST-ACHIEVING.
2. From a New York Times piece on Ruth Bader Ginsburg: "She watched as Ginsburg, the lawyer, _____ to the apex of her profession."
A. ascended
B. sidled onto
C. descended
a final word:
I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love.
I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words.
From my blog:
36 ways to study words.
Why we forget words, & how to remember them.
How to use sophisticated words without being awkward.
To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.
Disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.
With thanks to Wikipedia for the picture, here's the observation tower that sits at the apex--the very tip-top--of Clingman's Dome, the highest point in the state of Tennessee.
We took "apex" straight from Latin, with its meaning and spelling intact.
Part of speech:
Compared to words like "tip," "top," and "peak," the word "apex" has a more serious, formal tone.
"The building was designed in the 1860s by George Gilbert Scott. Here, I'm standing on his ornate staircase, looking up at that dome, which depicts 20 female figures representing nations that had diplomatic relations with Britain at that time. The apex shows the night sky with stars and the constellations."
Explain the meaning of "apex" without saying "peak" or "pinnacle."
This article describes "how Disney became entertainment's apex predator." In other words, somehow Disney clawed its way to the very top of the entertainment industry, like a powerful species with no natural enemies.
Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.
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