cliff

noun

ˈklif 

: a very steep, vertical, or overhanging face of rock, earth, or ice : precipice

cliffy

ˈkli-fē 

adjective

Synonyms of cliff

• escarpment
• palisade
• crag
• bluff

Examples of cliff in a Sentence

Standing at the edge of the cliff, we watched the waves crash on the shore far below.

rock climbers scaling steep cliffs

Recent Examples on the Web

According to local lore, the hillside on which this estate is situated is where a young Napoleon once climbed the cliff below the fortress and carved a heart into the rock. —Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 30 Jan. 2026

Something goes awry and the keg spirals down a hill, causing the entire party to gasp and swarm the cliff. —Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni visited a southern town in Sicily on Wednesday that has been left teetering on the edge of a cliff after days of heavy rains from a cyclone triggered a huge landslide that brought down properties and forced the evacuation of over 1,500 people. —Arkansas Online, 29 Jan. 2026

These cliffs are prone to landslides, creating safety issues. —Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English clif, from Old English; akin to Old High German klep cliff, Old Norse klif

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing cliff

• cliff dweller
• cliff-hanger
• cliff swallow

Rhymes for cliff

• biff
• diff
• glyph
• griff
• if
• riff
• schiff
• skiff
• sniff
• stiff
• tiff
• whiff

Kids Definition

cliff

noun

ˈklif 

: a high steep surface of rock, earth, or ice