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

If the suspense has you on edge, join the club — and watch T@gged season three premiere on December 7 on Hulu. — Kara Nesvig, Teen Vogue, "Noah Centineo Returns to Hulu's "T@gged" In Creepy New Season 3 Trailer," 29 Nov. 2018 The abduction that Chris referenced happened just last month, leaving Barron's 3,400 residents on edge. — Kelly O'sullivan, Country Living, "The Heartbreaking Reason 'The Voice' Star Chris Kroeze Dedicated His Performance to His Town," 20 Nov. 2018 As Beth teeters on the edge, Deja gives her a surprisingly Randall-like pep talk. — Candice Frederick, Harper's BAZAAR, "This Is Us Episode Recaps," 31 Oct. 2018 The caption accompanies a photo of Moorthy sitting on the edge of the canyon’s North Rim. — Jocelyn Gecker, The Seattle Times, "Indian couple who died in Yosemite took risks for photos," 31 Oct. 2018 Thousands of coastal residents remained on edge Sunday, told they may need to leave their homes because rivers are still rising more than a week after Hurricane Florence slammed into the Carolinas. — Fox News, "The Latest: Florence evacuations continue as rivers rise," 24 Sep. 2018 Also getting rave reviews from the judges was Aaron Crow, whose thrilling act (which featured Howie Mandel hiding in a box) put everyone on edge ... in the best way, of course. — Kayla Keegan, Good Housekeeping, "Simon Cowell Was Really Harsh During the 'America's Got Talent' Semifinals Last Night," 12 Sep. 2018 Paramedics wheel in the 70-year-old on a stretcher and help him sit on the edge of a bed. — Eliezer J. Sternberg, Discover Magazine, "The Man Who Lost His Language Overnight," 17 Aug. 2018 And there's a full garden and Joanna's bakery, Silos Baking Co. right on the edge of the property. — Taylor Mead, House Beautiful, "Joanna Gaines's Original Magnolia Store Is Coming Back For One Month Only — Here's How It Evolved," 27 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Japan's Nikkei rose 0.8%, while the Shanghai Composite was flat and Hong Kong's Hang Seng edged down 0.4%. — Riva Gold, WSJ, "Stocks Show Signs of Steadying Ahead of Jobs Report," 7 Dec. 2018 Between March and July, the Chevy Volt edged out the Bolt EV in sales. — Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, "GM is laying off thousands of workers, closing three plants, and ending production of the Chevy Volt," 26 Nov. 2018 Kylie Jenner's gaze-encasing interpretation of her leopard print top—a smudged cocoa edged along both lashlines before extending into a softly swung cat-eye—is a holiday-ready win. — Calin Van Paris, Vogue, "The Best Beauty Instagrams of the Week: Kylie Jenner Takes Leopard to Lid-Level (and More!)," 18 Nov. 2018 Reynolds edged out Fred Hubbell, a business executive and former chair of the department store and online retailer Younkers, retaining Republicans’ control over Iowa’s state government. — Stavros Agorakis, Vox, "Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds wins first full term in Iowa," 7 Nov. 2018 Press edges with a fork to seal and cut a few small slits in the top of each. — Jade Zimmerman, Country Living, "Cranberry-Apple Hand Pies," 30 Oct. 2018 In fact, the pieces are set apart, decisively framed on the wall, edged by light and lines, creating portal-like spaces that don’t really lead anywhere or take us out of the actuality of looking. — Gayle Clemans, The Seattle Times, "Artists at Winston Wächter gallery construct enticing ‘Summer Dreams’," 30 July 2018 Andre Schurrle Scores Germany's Seventh Semi-final contests are often billed as even and tight affairs; ones which are edged by tactical mastery or a moment of magic. — SI.com, "6 Moments of Madness These Players Will Never Forget," 11 June 2018 Former judge and Texas GOP candidate for Dallas County commissioner, Vickers Cunningham, was narrowly edged out of a win for the Republican nomination by Dallas attorney J.J Koch. — Daniela Sternitzky-di Napoli, Houston Chronicle, "Texas candidate who said he'd reward children for marrying white people loses election," 23 May 2018

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.