border on
phrasal verb
bordered on; bordering on; borders on
1
: to have a border on (something) : to lie on a boundary of (something)
The area my ancestors come from borders on the Atacama Desert.
2
: to be very like (something) : to come very close to being (something)
The play's dialog borders on the ridiculous.
an enthusiasm bordering on fanaticism
Examples of border on in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Grandma knows best My grandparents’ love for K&W bordered on devotional.
—
Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 3 Dec. 2025
Its next two opponents, meanwhile — Denver and Minnesota — are known for harassing defenses to a degree that borders on maniacal.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 29 Nov. 2025
Espresso is thicker, creamier, and has a velvety mouthfeel that almost borders on syrupy.
—Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 27 Nov. 2025
Many of Corbould’s achievements border on engineering feats.
—Udita Jhunjhunwala, Variety, 26 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for border on
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Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 3 Dec. 2025
Its next two opponents, meanwhile — Denver and Minnesota — are known for harassing defenses to a degree that borders on maniacal.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 29 Nov. 2025
Espresso is thicker, creamier, and has a velvety mouthfeel that almost borders on syrupy.
—Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 27 Nov. 2025
Many of Corbould’s achievements border on engineering feats.
—Udita Jhunjhunwala, Variety, 26 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for border on
Cite this Entry
“Border on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/border%20on. Accessed 9 Dec. 2025.
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