Peak vs. Summit — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 16, 2023
Peak refers to the highest point or apex, often of a mountain, but can also describe maximum intensity. Summit specifically refers to the highest point of a mountain or hill. While all summits are peaks, not all peaks are necessarily summits.
Difference Between Peak and Summit
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Key Differences
Peak is a more general term that refers to the highest point or maximum level of something.
Summit is a more specific term that often refers solely to the highest point of a mountain or hill.
Peak can also be used metaphorically to describe the apex of non-physical things.
Summit, on the other hand, is less frequently used metaphorically and tends to maintain its literal meaning of the highest point of a geographical feature.
Peak can describe any part of a ridge or mountain that has a discernible summit, whereas summit refers specifically to the absolute highest point.
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Comparison Chart
Generality
More General
More Specific
Geography
Can be any high point
Highest point of mountain
Metaphorical Use
Common
Less Common
Part of Ridge/Mountain
Yes
No
Intensity or Level
Can describe
Rarely describes
Compare with Definitions
Peak
Peak is the highest point or apex of a physical object.
The mountain's peak was covered in snow.
Summit
Summit is rarely used metaphorically.
His achievement was the summit of his efforts.
Peak
Peak can describe the maximum level or intensity.
Traffic reaches its peak during rush hour.
Summit
Summit often indicates the endpoint of a climb.
They planted a flag at the summit.
Peak
Peak can be any discernible summit on a ridge or mountain.
We hiked to a smaller peak first for practice.
Summit
Summit refers to the highest point of a mountain or hill.
They reached the summit after days of climbing.
Peak
Peak is often used metaphorically.
She was at the peak of her career.
Summit
Summit can also refer to a formal meeting between leaders.
The presidents attended the economic summit.
Peak
Peak can refer to the top or crest of a wave.
The surfer rode the peak of the wave.
Summit
A summit is a point on a surface that is higher in elevation than all points immediately adjacent to it. The topographic terms acme, apex, peak (mountain peak), and zenith are synonymous.
Peak
A tapering, projecting point; a pointed extremity
The peak of a cap.
The peak of a roof.
Summit
The highest point of a hill or mountain
She climbed back up the path towards the summit
Peak
The pointed summit of a mountain.
Summit
A meeting between heads of government
Two binding treaties were agreed at the summit
A summit meeting
Peak
The mountain itself.
Summit
Reach the summit of (a mountain or hill)
In 2013, 658 climbers summited Everest
They started climbing at 3:45 a.m. and summited at 8:45 p.m.
Peak
The point of a beard.
Summit
The highest point or part; the top.
Peak
A widow's peak.
Summit
The highest level or degree that can be attained.
Peak
The point of greatest development, value, or intensity
A novel written at the peak of the writer's career.
Summit
The highest level, as of government officials.
Peak
(Physics) The highest value attained by a varying quantity
A peak in current.
Summit
A conference or meeting of high-level leaders, usually called to shape a program of action.
Peak
The narrow portion of a ship's hull at the bow or stern.
Summit
To climb to the summit of (a mountain).
Peak
The upper aft corner of a quadrilateral fore-and-aft sail.
Summit
To climb to the summit.
Peak
The outermost end of a gaff.
Summit
(countable) A peak; the topmost point or surface, as of a mountain.
In summer, it is possible to hike to the summit of Mount Shasta.
Peak
(Nautical) To raise (a gaff) above the horizontal.
Summit
(countable) A gathering or assembly of leaders.
They met for an international summit on environmental issues.
Peak
To bring to a maximum of development, value, or intensity.
Summit
To reach the summit of a mountain.
Peak
To be formed into a peak or peaks
Beat the egg whites until they peak.
Summit
Something
I need to get summit to eat.
Peak
To achieve a maximum of development, value, or intensity
Sales tend to peak just before the holidays.
Summit
The top; the highest point.
Fixed on the summit of the highest mount.
Peak
To become sickly, emaciated, or pale.
Summit
The highest degree; the utmost elevation; the acme; as, the summit of human fame.
Peak
Approaching or constituting the maximum
Working at peak efficiency.
Summit
The most elevated part of a bivalve shell, or the part in which the hinge is situated.
Peak
A point; the sharp end or top of anything that terminates in a point; as, the peak, or front, of a cap.
Summit
The highest level or degree attainable;
His landscapes were deemed the acme of beauty
The artist's gifts are at their acme
At the height of her career
The peak of perfection
Summer was at its peak
...catapulted Einstein to the pinnacle of fame
The summit of his ambition
So many highest superlatives achieved by man
At the top of his profession
Peak
The highest value reached by some quantity in a time period.
The stock market reached a peak in September 1929.
Summit
The top point of a mountain or hill;
The view from the peak was magnificent
They clambered to the summit of Monadnock
Peak
(geography) The top, or one of the tops, of a hill, mountain, or range, ending in a point.
They reached the peak after 8 hours of climbing.
Summit
A meeting of heads of governments
Peak
(geography) The whole hill or mountain, especially when isolated.
Summit
Reach the summit of a mountain;
Many mountaineers go up Mt. Everest but not all summit
Peak
(nautical) The upper aftermost corner of a fore-and-aft sail.
Summit
Summit implies an ascent to reach it.
The team prepared for the summit attempt.
Peak
(nautical) The narrow part of a vessel's bow, or the hold within it.
Peak
(nautical) The extremity of an anchor fluke; the bill.
Peak
(mathematics) A local maximum of a function, e.g. for sine waves, each point at which the value of y is at its maximum.
Peak
To raise the point of (a gaff) closer to perpendicular.
Peak
(intransitive)
Peak
To reach a highest degree or maximum.
Historians argue about when the Roman Empire began to peak and ultimately decay.
Peak
To rise or extend into a peak or point; to form, or appear as, a peak.
Peak
To cause to adopt gender-critical or trans-exclusionary views (ellipsis of peak trans).
Peak
(intransitive) To become sick or wan.
Peak
(intransitive) To acquire sharpness of figure or features; hence, to look thin or sickly.
Peak
(intransitive) To pry; to peep slyly.
Peak
At the greatest extent; maximum.
Peak oil, Peak TV
Peak
(slang) Maximal, quintessential, archetypical; representing the culmination of its type.
Knowing obscure 19th-century slang is peak nerd.
Peak
(MLE) Bad.
Peak
(MLE) Unlucky; unfortunate.
You didn't get a spot? That's peak.
Peak
A point; the sharp end or top of anything that terminates in a point; as, the peak, or front, of a cap.
Peak
The top, or one of the tops, of a hill, mountain, or range, ending in a point; often, the whole hill or mountain, esp. when isolated; as, the Peak of Teneriffe.
Silent upon a peak in Darien.
Peak
The upper aftermost corner of a fore-and-aft sail; - used in many combinations; as, peak-halyards, peak-brails, etc.
Peak
To rise or extend into a peak or point; to form, or appear as, a peak.
There peaketh up a mighty high mount.
Peak
To achieve a maximum of numerical value, intensity of activity, popularity, or other characteristic, followed by a decline; as, the stock market peaked in January; his performance as a pitcher peaked in 1990; sales of the XTX model peaked at 20,000 per year.
Peak
To acquire sharpness of figure or features; hence, to look thin or sickly.
Peak
To pry; to peep slyly.
Peak
To raise to a position perpendicular, or more nearly so; as, to peak oars, to hold them upright; to peak a gaff or yard, to set it nearer the perpendicular.
Peak
The most extreme possible amount or value;
Voltage peak
Peak
The period of greatest prosperity or productivity
Peak
The highest level or degree attainable;
His landscapes were deemed the acme of beauty
The artist's gifts are at their acme
At the height of her career
The peak of perfection
Summer was at its peak
...catapulted Einstein to the pinnacle of fame
The summit of his ambition
So many highest superlatives achieved by man
At the top of his profession
Peak
The top point of a mountain or hill;
The view from the peak was magnificent
They clambered to the summit of Monadnock
Peak
A V shape;
The cannibal's teeth were filed to sharp points
Peak
The highest point (of something);
At the peak of the pyramid
Peak
A brim that projects to the front to shade the eyes;
He pulled down the bill of his cap and trudged ahead
Peak
To reach the highest point; attain maximum intensity, activity;
That wild, speculative spirit peaked in 1929
Peak
Of a period of maximal use or demand or activity;
At peak hours the streets traffic is unbelievable
Peak
Approaching or constituting a maximum;
Maximal temperature
Maximum speed
Working at peak efficiency
Common Curiosities
What does Summit mean?
Summit specifically refers to the highest point of a mountain or hill.
Is Summit used metaphorically?
Less commonly than peak; summit usually maintains its literal meaning.
What does Peak mean?
Peak refers to the highest point or level of something.
Is Peak used in science?
Yes, it's often used to describe maximum points in data or graphs.
Are all Summits Peaks?
Yes, all summits are peaks, but not all peaks are summits.
Can you have multiple Peaks on a mountain?
Yes, a mountain can have multiple peaks, but only one summit.
Is Summit used in politics?
Yes, it often refers to high-level meetings between leaders.
Is every high point a Peak?
Not necessarily; a peak is generally a prominent high point.
Can Summit refer to the end of something?
In climbing, reaching the summit often marks the endpoint of the ascent.
Does Summit imply an ascent?
Yes, reaching a summit typically involves an ascent.
Can Peak refer to non-geographical things?
Yes, peak can describe the maximum level or intensity of non-geographical things.
Is Peak always the highest point?
Generally, yes, but it may not always be the absolute highest point like a summit.
How are Peak and Summit different?
Peak is more general and can be metaphorical, while summit is more specific and usually literal.
Does Peak have a verb form?
Yes, "to peak" can mean to reach maximum level or intensity.
Can Summit refer to meetings?
Yes, it can refer to a formal meeting between leaders or experts.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
