edge

noun

\ ˈej

Definition of edge

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : the cutting side of a blade a razor's edge

b : the sharpness of a blade a knife with no edge

c(1) : force, effectiveness blunted the edge of the legislation

(2) : vigor or energy especially of body maintains his hard edge

d(1) : incisive or penetrating quality writing with a satirical edge

(2) : a noticeably harsh or sharp quality her voice had an edge to it

(3) : a secondary but distinct quality rock music with a bluesy edge

e : keenness or intensity of desire or enjoyment lost my competitive edge

2a : the line where an object or area begins or ends : border on the edge of a plain

b : the narrow part adjacent to a border the edge of the deck

c(1) : a point near the beginning or the end especially : brink, verge on the edge of disaster

(2) : the threshold of danger or ruin living on the edge

d : a favorable margin : advantage has an edge on the competition

3 : a line or line segment that is the intersection of two plane faces (as of a pyramid) or of two planes

on edge

: anxious, nervous

edge

verb

edged; edging

Definition of edge (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : to give an edge to

b : to be on an edge of trees edging the lake

2 : to move or force gradually edged him off the road

3 : to incline (a ski) sideways so that one edge cuts into the snow

4 : to defeat by a small margin —often used with out edged out her opponent

intransitive verb

: to advance by short moves

Other Words from edge Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about edge

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Examples of edge in a Sentence

Noun

They peered over the edge of the roof. The fabric was frayed at the edge. He made us all nervous by standing so close to the edge of the cliff. She sat on the edge of the counter, swinging her legs. the edge of an ax His voice had a sarcastic edge. These amendments will blunt the edge of the legislation.

Verb

Edge the sleeve with lace. She edged away from him. Gasoline prices have been edging upward. I edged my chair closer to the table.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

But neither Wilborn nor any other edge rusher on the roster possesses Harris’ combination of length and quickness. — Michael Lev, azcentral, "Counting down the most valuable Arizona Wildcats for 2019 football season," 9 July 2019 Puerto Rico Ports Authority spokesman José Carmona told the AP that the family was gathered in or near a dining hall on the 11th floor and that the grandfather sat the toddler on the edge of a window and apparently lost his grip. — Fox News, "Family in shock after toddler daughter of Indiana cop dies in fall from grandfather's hands on cruise ship, reports say," 9 July 2019 Puerto Rico Ports Authority spokesman José Carmona told the outlet that the Indiana family was at a dining hall on the 11th floor when Anello allegedly sat the toddler on the edge of a window. — Joelle Goldstein, PEOPLE.com, "Family 'in Shock' After Baby Apparently Slips from Grandfather's Hands & Falls from Cruise Ship," 9 July 2019 Puerto Rico Ports Authority spokesman José Carmona had said that the family was gathered in or near a dining hall on the 11th floor and the grandfather sat the toddler on the edge of a window, The Associated Press reported. — Johnny Diaz, sun-sentinel.com, "Family seeks answers after toddler dies in 11-floor fall from cruise ship," 9 July 2019 Pray for rain or migrate Farmers in rural Honduras and Guatemala are living on the edge of hunger, not knowing if the next harvest will come. — Petra Cahill, NBC News, "Obamacare, climate change and another win for the Women's World Cup: The Morning Rundown," 9 July 2019 As the Ducks sort out their depth chart this summer, that versatility will give them more options; Throckmorton is expected to spend most of his time at right tackle, protecing Justin Herbert from the Pac-12’s best edge rushers. — Joan Niesen, SI.com, "The Biggest Snubs From SI's 2019 College Football Top 100," 8 July 2019 Puerto Rico Ports Authority spokesman José Carmona told the AP that the family was gathered in or near a dining hall on the 11th floor and that the grandfather sat the toddler on the edge of a window. — DÁnica Coto, Twin Cities, "1-year-old dies after falling from grandfather’s arms off cruise ship in Puerto Rico," 8 July 2019 Before the crisis began, there were about 500 residents in San Miguel Amoltepec Viejo, which sits on the edge of a steep valley. — Kirk Semple, New York Times, "Mexican Opium Prices Plummet, Driving Poppy Farmers to Migrate," 7 July 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Rates on one-year and longer-term certificates of deposits already have edged down this year in anticipation of lower Fed rates, says Ken Tumin, founder of DepositAccounts.com. — Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, "How would a Fed rate cut affect your credit cards, home equity lines and bank savings," 11 July 2019 And when Yuzvendra Chahal edged a Jimmy Neesham delivery behind, India's World Cup dream was finally extinguished. — James Masters, CNN, "India crashes out to New Zealand in Cricket World Cup semifinal," 10 July 2019 Senior Trey Cormier edged out Xavier junior Robbie Cozean for first in the 1,600 (4:17.77), and Anderson repeated as the 800 (1:56.59). — Shawn Mcfarland, courant.com, "The 2019 All-Courant boys outdoor track and field team," 10 July 2019 After edging Riske in singles, Williams cooled down by riding a stationary bike while holding her nearly 2-year-old daughter, Olympia, in one arm. — baltimoresun.com, "Chasing eighth Wimbledon title, Serena Williams beats Alison Riske to reach semis," 9 July 2019 Both games against returning zone opponents were highly competitive last year, with the Lions edging the Bulldogs 20-12 and the Vikings 17-14. — Jack Marrion, Houston Chronicle, "St. John XXIII College Prep releases 2019 football schedule," 8 July 2019 Trump's approval rating among voting-age Americans stands at 44 percent, edging up from 39 percent in April, with 53 percent saying they disapprove of him. — Anchorage Daily News, "Aided by a strong economy, Trump approval rises, but a majority also see him as ‘unpresidential’," 7 July 2019 The unemployment rate ticked up slightly from 3.6 percent to 3.7 percent, and average hourly wage growth edged up by 0.2 percent, versus forecasts for 0.3 percent. — NBC News, "Economy added 224,000 jobs in June, beating expectations," 5 July 2019 The lake is small, quiet and intimate, nestled in granite and edged by a sprinkling of pines. — Tom Stienstra, SFChronicle.com, "Sierra campgrounds, lodges open for summer on Highway 88," 4 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'edge.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for edge

Noun

Middle English egge, going back to Old English ecg "cutting side of a blade, border," going back to Germanic *agjō "cutting side of a blade" (whence also Old Frisian eg "cutting side of a blade, sword," Old Saxon eggia, Old High German egga, ekka "cutting side of a blade, border, point, corner," Old Norse egg "cutting side of a blade"), feminine noun derivative from Indo-European *h₂eḱ- "sharp, pointed," whence also Latin aciēs "sharp part of a weapon"

Note: The base *h₂eḱ- "sharp, pointed" was productive of a large number of suffixed derivatives in the Indo-European daughter languages. Latin had a verbal base deriving from h₂eḱ-eh₁- "to be sharp" (see acetic acid, acid entry 2) and a presumed adjectival stem *acū- "sharp" (see acute). An apparently isolated derivative is Greek akmḗ "highest point" (see acme). For the derivative *h₂eḱ-r-/h₂oḱ-r-, with outcomes in Greek, Latin, and other languages, see acro-, mediocre. See also awn, ear entry 2.