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
Its constant affirmation of the user also bordered on dangerous, becoming sycophantic and encouraging delusions, as the company discussed in an April blog post.
—
PC Magazine, 14 Oct. 2025
Mark Collins, who was born and raised in Newfoundland, Canada, said Canadians have long treasured their friendship with the United States and the fact that the US-Canada border is the longest undefended border on the planet.
—Matt Egan, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2025
Guo set off from the Mexican border on April 21, blitzing through the heat of New Mexico to arrive at the high-elevation San Juans of southwest Colorado in mid-May, when they were still covered in snow.
—David Gleisner, Outside, 13 Oct. 2025
Photos of her black eye, which were previously entered into evidence, show a massive purple, bordering on black, bruise that extends from her eyelid to the top of her left cheekbone.
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for border on
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PC Magazine, 14 Oct. 2025
Mark Collins, who was born and raised in Newfoundland, Canada, said Canadians have long treasured their friendship with the United States and the fact that the US-Canada border is the longest undefended border on the planet.
—Matt Egan, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2025
Guo set off from the Mexican border on April 21, blitzing through the heat of New Mexico to arrive at the high-elevation San Juans of southwest Colorado in mid-May, when they were still covered in snow.
—David Gleisner, Outside, 13 Oct. 2025
Photos of her black eye, which were previously entered into evidence, show a massive purple, bordering on black, bruise that extends from her eyelid to the top of her left cheekbone.
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 8 Oct. 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 19 Oct. 2025.
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