precipice
C1Formal, literary, journalistic.
Definition
Meaning
A very steep cliff.
A situation of great peril or danger; a brink or edge of disaster.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Almost always metaphorical in contemporary usage, describing a critical juncture of danger rather than a literal cliff.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in usage frequency or meaning.
Connotations
Slightly more literary/formal in both variants.
Frequency
Equally common in serious journalism and analysis in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
on the precipice of + NOUN (war, disaster, collapse)precipice + VERB (loomed, fell away)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “peer over the precipice”
- “step back from the precipice”
- “a precipice of one's own making”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The company stood on the precipice of bankruptcy.
Academic
The nation was on the precipice of a profound constitutional crisis.
Everyday
I felt like I was on the edge of a precipice, about to make a life-changing decision.
Technical
The climber rappelled down the granite precipice.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A – 'precipice' is not a verb.
American English
- N/A – 'precipice' is not a verb.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A – 'precipice' is not an adjective. Use 'precipitous'.
American English
- N/A – 'precipice' is not an adjective. Use 'precipitous'.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The mountain had a scary precipice.
- We looked carefully over the precipice at the valley below.
- The negotiations brought the two countries back from the precipice of war.
- Years of fiscal mismanagement had left the economy teetering on a precipice, vulnerable to the slightest shock.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a PRECISE, sheer cliff edge – a 'precise' drop is a PRECIPICE.
Conceptual Metaphor
DANGER IS A HEIGHT / A CRITICAL SITUATION IS THE EDGE OF A CLIFF.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- False friend: Not related to 'преципитный' (precipitate in chemistry). The Russian direct equivalent is 'обрыв', 'пропасть', 'край'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'precipice' for a gradual slope (it implies sheer verticality).
- Confusing with 'precipitate' (verb/adjective).
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase best describes the metaphorical use of 'precipice'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, its most common use today is metaphorical, describing a critical point of danger or disaster.
'Precipice' is a noun (the cliff/brink itself). 'Precipitous' is an adjective meaning dangerously steep or sudden.
Extremely rarely. It almost always carries a negative connotation of peril. A positive 'brink' might be described as a 'threshold' or 'verge' instead.
Using it to describe any difficult situation, rather than one that is specifically critical, immediate, and potentially catastrophic.