cliff

noun

ˈklif 

: a very steep, vertical, or overhanging face of rock, earth, or ice : precipice

cliffy

ˈkli-fē 

adjective

Synonyms of cliff

• escarpment
• palisade
• crag
• bluff

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 on the Web

But this isn’t the Cruise audiences are typically familiar with — the dashing Hollywood movie star who jumps off cliffs and hangs off airplane wings. — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 27 Oct. 2026

The building, known in German as the Kehlsteinhaus, is located on a cliff 6,017 feet above sea level. — Geir Moulson, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026

The building, known in German as the Kehlsteinhaus, is located on a cliff 1,834 meters (6,017 feet) above sea level. — ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026

Once the iPhone came out in 2007, that percentage began to dip, and iPod sales fell off a cliff by 2010. — Eric Griffith, PC Magazine, 23 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English clif, from Old English; akin to Old High German klep cliff, Old Norse klif

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing cliff

• cliff dweller
• cliff-hanger
• cliff swallow

Rhymes for cliff

• biff
• diff
• glyph
• griff
• if
• riff
• schiff
• skiff
• sniff
• stiff
• tiff
• whiff

Kids Definition

cliff

noun

ˈklif 

: a high steep surface of rock, earth, or ice