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

Stone-Robb pointed to its cliffs, ocean views, surf breaks, walkable streets, and a lively central market as the likely cause of its popularity, noting that home prices here run lower than in nearby Cascais despite a similar coastal appeal. — Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 23 July 2026

The trail delivers waterfalls, alpine lakes and huge granite cliffs, and most trailheads require a wilderness permit that can be competitive to secure. — Ashley Lynch, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026

In the second half of the 18th Dynasty (1550—1292 BCE), high-ranking city dignitaries created tombs for themselves in the limestone cliffs at Bubasteion. — Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 22 July 2026

In the 1990s and early 2000s, buzz for the area’s towering sandstone cliffs and mammoth boulders—which are perfect for pitching routes and scrambling up—sparked pilgrimages by global athletes. — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 21 July 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