brink
noun
ˈbriŋk 
1
: edge
especially : the edge at the top of a steep place
2
: a bank especially of a river
3
: the point of onset : verge
on the brink of war
4
: the threshold of danger
Synonyms
- cusp
- edge
- point
- threshold
- verge
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
was at the brink of death when the rescuers arrived
Recent Examples on the Web On Thursday, Federer announced his retirement from professional tennis, at age 41, his competitiveness still fierce, but his aging body at the brink. 
Jason Gay, WSJ, 15 Sep. 2022 Drugs, unaddressed mental illness, and over-touring helped push us all to the brink of near destruction. Joe Trohman, Rolling Stone, 13 Sep. 2022 The friction between the neighbors has brought the NATO allies to the brink of war three times in the last half-century. Andrew Wilks, ajc, 6 Sep. 2022 In response to a public callout from MuckRock, one parent in Mount Pleasant, Monica Rosen, said that paying for her daughter’s preschool pushed her family to the brink of poverty. Luca Powell And Derek Kravitz, Detroit Free Press, 28 Aug. 2022 Now with a longer running time of ten episodes, humanity is now at the brink of extinction and Dracula’s forces are decimating humanity. Ollie Barder, Forbes, 12 June 2022 The economy added 390,000 jobs in May, more than many analysts expected, and in line with monthly growth of about 400,000 jobs — not the typical picture for an economy many fear is at the brink of a recession. Somesh Jha, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2022 Chelsea — the biggest spender in Europe this window after an outlay of about $265 million — was on the brink of signing striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who joined Barcelona from Arsenal only in February. Steve Douglas, ajc, 1 Sep. 2022 The fund helps respond to the unprecedented global hunger crisis and provides life-saving support for people on the brink of starvation. Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 1 Sep. 2022 See More
Jason Gay, WSJ, 15 Sep. 2022 Drugs, unaddressed mental illness, and over-touring helped push us all to the brink of near destruction. Joe Trohman, Rolling Stone, 13 Sep. 2022 The friction between the neighbors has brought the NATO allies to the brink of war three times in the last half-century. Andrew Wilks, ajc, 6 Sep. 2022 In response to a public callout from MuckRock, one parent in Mount Pleasant, Monica Rosen, said that paying for her daughter’s preschool pushed her family to the brink of poverty. Luca Powell And Derek Kravitz, Detroit Free Press, 28 Aug. 2022 Now with a longer running time of ten episodes, humanity is now at the brink of extinction and Dracula’s forces are decimating humanity. Ollie Barder, Forbes, 12 June 2022 The economy added 390,000 jobs in May, more than many analysts expected, and in line with monthly growth of about 400,000 jobs — not the typical picture for an economy many fear is at the brink of a recession. Somesh Jha, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2022 Chelsea — the biggest spender in Europe this window after an outlay of about $265 million — was on the brink of signing striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who joined Barcelona from Arsenal only in February. Steve Douglas, ajc, 1 Sep. 2022 The fund helps respond to the unprecedented global hunger crisis and provides life-saving support for people on the brink of starvation. Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 1 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse brekka slope; akin to Middle Dutch brink grassland
First Known Use
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing brink
Kids Definition
brink
noun
ˈbriŋk
1
: the edge at the top of a steep place
2
: a point of beginning
But everything else was … on the brink of burning … Natalie Babbitt, Tuck Everlasting
Natalie Babbitt, Tuck Everlastingbrink
noun
as in verge
an interval of time just before the onset of something was at the brink of death when the rescuers arrived Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- verge
- cusp
- edge
- threshold
- point
- nick