crest

1 of 2

noun

ˈkrest 

1

a

: a showy tuft or process on the head of an animal and especially a bird see bird illustration

b

: the plume or identifying emblem worn on a knight's helmet

also : the top of a helmet

c(1)

: a heraldic representation of the crest

(2)

: a heraldic device depicted above the escutcheon (see escutcheon sense 1) but not upon a helmet

(3)

: coat of arms sense 2a

d

: a ridge or prominence on a part of an animal body

2

: something suggesting a crest especially in being an upper prominence, edge, or limit: such as

a

: peak

especially : the top line of a mountain or hill

b

: the ridge of a roof

c

: the top of a wave

3

a

: a high point of an action or process and especially of one that is rhythmic

b

: climax, culmination

at the crest of his fame

crestal

ˈkre-stᵊl 

adjective

crestless

ˈkrest-ləs 

adjective

crest

2 of 2

verb

crested; cresting; crests

transitive verb

1

: to furnish with a crest

also : crown

2

: to reach the crest of

crested the hill and looked around

intransitive verb

: to rise to a crest

waves cresting in the storm

Synonyms of crest

Noun

• pinnacle
• top
• zenith
• height
• peak
• culmination
• apex

Examples of crest in a Sentence

Noun

at that point the filmmaker was at the crest of his critical acclaim, which included winning an Oscar for best picture

the hiking party reached the crest of the mountain just as it began to thunder

Verb

We crested the hill and looked out around us.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Their brand-new kits and crest, designed by former Sporting KC senior brand director Chad Reynolds, embrace Kansas City elements in designs and font. — Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 11 Oct. 2026

Shortly after the event, a short video was posted to the company’s social media channels that offered quick flashes of a mysterious vehicle bearing the brand’s famous crest. — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 8 Oct. 2026

Verb

After the initial waves of acclaim and success inevitably crested, Misty crashed hard. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026

In extremely short order, the Belgian designer filled them and more, cresting the wave of growth that swelled across luxury between 2016 and 2023 (via the Covid slump). — Luke Leitch, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English creste, from Anglo-French, from Latin crista; probably akin to Latin crinis hair

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing crest

• neural crest

Rhymes for crest

• blessed
• blest
• breast
• chest
• dressed
• fest
• gest
• geste
• guessed
• jest
• lest
• messed

Kids Definition

crest

1 of 2 noun

ˈkrest 

1

a

: a showy growth (as of flesh or feathers) on the head of an animal

b

: an emblem or design on a helmet (as of a knight) or over a coat of arms

2

: an upper part, edge, or limit

the crest of a hill

the crest of a wave

crested

ˈkres-təd

adjective

crest

2 of 2 verb

1

: to give a crest to

2

: to reach the crest of

crest the hill

3

: to rise to a crest

sea waves cresting

Medical Definition

crest

noun

ˈkrest 

1

: a showy tuft or process on the head of an animal and especially a bird

2

: a process or prominence on a part of an animal body: as

a

: the upper curve or ridge of the neck of a quadruped (as a horse)

also : the mane borne on such a crest

b

: a ridge especially on a bone

the crest of the tibia

see frontal crest, occipital crest