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
Cue the lively, passionate debate, which might even border on outright head-butting as foreplay.
—
Maressa Brown, InStyle, 15 Feb. 2026
Every angle reveals a precision that borders on perfection.
—Alex Sales, Glamour, 14 Feb. 2026
For example, an athlete’s constant desire to improve and their intense attention to detail can border on perfectionism and obsessiveness.
—Emily Hemendinger, The Conversation, 13 Feb. 2026
The scene borders on chaotic, but the women are oblivious to the commotion around them.
—Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for border on
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Maressa Brown, InStyle, 15 Feb. 2026
Every angle reveals a precision that borders on perfection.
—Alex Sales, Glamour, 14 Feb. 2026
For example, an athlete’s constant desire to improve and their intense attention to detail can border on perfectionism and obsessiveness.
—Emily Hemendinger, The Conversation, 13 Feb. 2026
The scene borders on chaotic, but the women are oblivious to the commotion around them.
—Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
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 17 Feb. 2026.
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