brink
Americannoun
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the edge or margin of a steep place or of land bordering water.
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any extreme edge; verge.
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a crucial or critical point, especially of a situation or state beyond which success or catastrophe occurs.
We were on the brink of war.
noun
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the edge, border, or verge of a steep place
the brink of the precipice
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the highest point; top
the sun fell below the brink of the hill
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the land at the edge of a body of water
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the verge of an event or state
the brink of disaster
Other Word Forms
- brinkless adjective
Etymology
Origin of brink
1250–1300; Middle English brink < Old Norse ( Danish ) brink, cognate with MLG brink edge, hillside, Old Norse brekka slope, hill
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It insured more people affected by the Los Angeles wildfires than any other company, according to its website, and the disaster pushed its California unit to the brink of collapse.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026
But it was not Manchester United's day, it was Manchester City, on the brink of a first league title in 10 years, who were in party mood.
From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026
But that strategy has dramatically backfired, propelling the aging franchise closer to the brink of the point of no return.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 2026
For other people reading this who suspect an elderly relative is being scammed or on the brink of being scammed, contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-372-8311 or legal services and Adult Protective Services.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 23, 2026
We are on the brink of German invasion.
From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.