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

Examples of brink in a Sentence

was at the brink of death when the rescuers arrived

Recent Examples on the Web

Man Utd and Tottenham on brink of face-off for Europa League title (CBS) Football is never done until it’s done — Manchester United’s ‘portrait of pandemonium’ against Lyon proved that — but there’s only minor jeopardy in predicting that the Europa League is headed for an all Premier League final. —Phil Hay, New York Times, 2 May 2025

Failure to act will push more seniors to the financial brink, further jeopardizing their health and well-being. —Katie Dempsey, Boston Herald, 27 Mar. 2025

Image Israel and Hamas on the ‘brink’ of a truce Israel and Hamas are close to a deal on a cease-fire in Gaza and the release of hostages there, Antony Blinken, the U.S. secretary of state, said yesterday. —Natasha Frost, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2025

Two productions teetered on the $2M brink: Gypsy ($1,818,235, with press comps keeping the number down); and Sunset Blvd. —Greg Evans, Deadline, 17 Dec. 2024

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

• brought/pulled back from the brink of
• on the brink of
• teetering on the brink/edge of
• the brink

Rhymes for brink

• blink
• chink
• cinque
• clink
• dink
• drink
• fink
• hink
• ink
• kink
• klink
• link

Kids Definition

brink

noun

ˈbriŋk 

1

: the edge at the top of a steep place

2

: a point of beginning : verge

on the brink of war