Definition of cliff
: a very steep, vertical, or overhanging face of rock, earth, or ice : precipice
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Examples of cliff in a Sentence
Standing at the edge of the cliff, we watched the waves crash on the shore far below.
rock climbers scaling steep cliffs
Recent Examples of cliff from the Web
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Democrats should be willing to exploit that vulnerability, if only to hand their opponents an anvil and encourage them to walk off the nearest cliff.
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This island is sheer relaxation, supreme natural beauty, and lots of gorgeous private beaches to explore by hiking the seaside cliffs.
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Other than the rocky cliffs and boxy buildings, most everything is white during the long winter.
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The Affordable Care Act sets up insurance price cliffs based on income, too.
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Janes made his Hollywood debut in 1954 with an 80-foot cliff dive for an Esther Williams movie.
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When local saint Felices de Bilibio died in the 6th century, people began making pilgrimages into the cliffs to honor him.
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Here, earth and ocean meet, not with gently sloping sands but with muscular mountains bristling with redwoods, and rugged cliffs that drop into the turquoise surf below.
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If Baker—who could find a foothold in a plate-glass cliff—couldn’t do business, then Saddam was truly intractable.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cliff.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of cliff
Middle English clif, from Old English; akin to Old High German klep cliff, Old Norse klif
Other Geology Terms
anthracite, boulder, cwm, erratic, igneous, intrusive, mesa, sedimentary, silt, swale
CLIFF Defined for English Language Learners
cliff
playDefinition of cliff for English Language Learners
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: a high, steep surface of rock, earth, or ice
CLIFF Defined for Kids
Learn More about cliff
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See words that rhyme with cliff Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for cliff Spanish Central: Translation of cliff Nglish: Translation of cliff for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of cliff for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cliff
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