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

The production used cliff-top industrial ruins, working harbor settings and historic churches around Cornwall to build its atmosphere. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 6 Aug. 2026

People have driven to the edges of cliffs and even into lakes. — Shayla Love, New Yorker, 6 Aug. 2026

Pharma’s previous mega-merger wave was largely a response to patent cliffs and weak pipeline replacement, with companies relying on cost cuts to protect earnings. — Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 6 Aug. 2026

The final letter from a former youth pastor accused of pushing his wife off a cliff was released by police in Las Vegas. — Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 5 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