brink

[bringk]

noun

1. the edge or margin of a steep place or of land bordering water.

2. any extreme edge; verge.

3. a crucial or critical point, especially of a situation or state beyond which success or catastrophe occurs.

   We were on the brink of war.

brink

/ brɪŋk /

noun

1. the edge, border, or verge of a steep place

   the brink of the precipice

2. the highest point; top

   the sun fell below the brink of the hill

3. the land at the edge of a body of water

4. the verge of an event or state

   the brink of disaster

Other Word Forms

• brinkless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of brink¹

1250–1300; Middle English brink < Old Norse ( Danish ) brink, cognate with MLG brink edge, hillside, Old Norse brekka slope, hill

Word History and Origins

Origin of brink¹

C13: from Middle Dutch brinc , of Germanic origin; compare Old Norse brekka slope, Middle Low German brink edge of a field

Example Sentences

Pushed to the brink, the question some are asking is whether Delhi will retaliate?

From BBC

Wales' World Cup campaign is on the brink of ending after Canada once again provided a masterclass in attacking rugby with a six-try blitz as their place in the knockout phase was confirmed.

From BBC

Among them was a local detective from a nearby town who was on the brink of retirement.

From BBC

Less than two years after it was sold, In The Style was on the brink of insolvency.

From BBC

Besides, even if we hadn’t elected an idiotic version of Lex Luthor, the world would be teetering on the brink of disaster in ways we hadn’t pictured.

From Salon

Related Words

• fringe 
• periphery 
• threshold 
• verge