Definition of PRECIPICES (original) (raw)
1
: a very steep or overhanging place
Synonyms
Examples of precipice in a Sentence
Twenty years ago, it seemed unlikely that black and white South Africans could avoid a cataclysmic struggle. How did we manage to turn back from the precipice and join one another in the long walk to a nonracial democracy? —
F. W. De Klerk, Time, 18 Apr. 2005 These are the brave, friendly guys and gals who flip, twist, spin and somersault themselves backward into the sky and somehow land on a horrifyingly steep precipice without rearranging their rib cages or breaking their faces. —Curry Kirkpatrick, Newsweek, 21 Feb. 1994 … the helpless Cambodians were bused from the safety of a refugee camp to an outcropping along the border several hundred miles to the northeast, where they were forced over the precipice into a wild and inaccessible part of Cambodia from which it would be almost impossible to return to Thailand. —Barbara Crossette, New York Times Book Review, 2 Aug. 1987
He stood on the edge of the precipice. scaled the steep precipice with the ease of an experienced climber
Recent Examples on the Web The United States may not be on the precipice of a full-scale civil war, as some have predicted. —Robert A. Pape, Foreign Affairs, 23 Sep. 2024 The European continent was on the precipice of war, with Hitler’s army invading Austria in March of 1938. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 22 Sep. 2024 Here's where the economy stands on the precipice of the Fed's next chapter. —Jim Sergent, USA TODAY, 16 Sep. 2024 Jones is on the precipice of falling off the edge for the Giants. —Steve Silverman, Forbes, 9 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for precipice 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'precipice.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
French, from Middle French, from Latin praecipitium, from praecipit-, praeceps headlong, from prae- + caput head — more at head
First Known Use
1613, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of precipice was in 1613
Dictionary Entries Near precipice
Cite this Entry
“Precipice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/precipice. Accessed 1 Oct. 2024.
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Last Updated: 27 Sep 2024 - Updated example sentences
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