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

That income limit is a cliff — earning a dollar over the limit generally means paying the full, unsubsidized premium. — Sarah Agostino, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026

Those software companies like Adobe, though, continued to climb, while his glorious tech socks fell off a cliff. — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 27 Aug. 2026

Links in the chain The Himalayan cliff bee, Apis laboriosa, is the world’s largest honeybee. — Prayan Pokharel, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026

The consequence is a financing cliff that’s now closely dated. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 26 Aug. 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