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
Hades became their magnum opus by adding just a dash of playfulness that borders on being twee.
—
Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2025
The cult of Costco Even in a world where supermarkets can stir a frenzy, Costco fans border on the obsessive.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 26 Sep. 2025
His manipulating voters with their own tax dollars borders on criminality.
—John Moorlach, Oc Register, 22 Sep. 2025
With glimmering synths, two backup dancers whose movement bordered on performance art, and baths of hazy blue light, Lorde's show was deeper than just a concert from its beginning notes.
—Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for border on
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Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2025
The cult of Costco Even in a world where supermarkets can stir a frenzy, Costco fans border on the obsessive.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 26 Sep. 2025
His manipulating voters with their own tax dollars borders on criminality.
—John Moorlach, Oc Register, 22 Sep. 2025
With glimmering synths, two backup dancers whose movement bordered on performance art, and baths of hazy blue light, Lorde's show was deeper than just a concert from its beginning notes.
—Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 21 Sep. 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 29 Sep. 2025.
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