cliff
noun
ˈklif 
: a very steep, vertical, or overhanging face of rock, earth, or ice : precipice
cliffy
ˈkli-fē
adjective 
Synonyms
- barranca
- barranco
- bluff
- crag
- escarpment
- palisade
- precipice
- scar
- scarp
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 But the revenues have just gone off the cliff in terms of, for example, M&A or underwriting. 
Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 23 Aug. 2022 Many of the 13 vehicles that got launched off the cliff this year featured red, white, and blue alongside patriotic slogans, but others were personalized to represent the community. Sasha Richie, Car and Driver, 8 July 2022 If Tesla’s Cybertruck is an angular modernist home hanging off the cliff of public acceptance, the Lightning is prairie revival. Dan Neil, WSJ, 12 May 2022 Outside London, every kid in Casper’s field trip class has survived the fall off the cliff, but their teacher, Mr. Edwards, is looking rough, with glass embedded in his face and some sort of rebar sticking through his body. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2021 The stage faces the lake with a virtually vertical, heavily forested cliff rising up hundreds of feet to the rim of the cone behind it. Chris Johns, SPIN, 8 Aug. 2022 Evgeny pulled out a thin cigarette from a narrow golden case and looked out the window: cliff, sea, monastery. Vladimir Sorokin, Harper’s Magazine , 20 July 2022 For the most part, Sandberg doesn’t seem to be an example of the glass cliff in action. Maria Aspan, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2022 During a visit to Ireland, the pair had some downtime on the cliff walk at Howth. Stephanie Petit, Peoplemag, 2 Aug. 2022 See More
Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 23 Aug. 2022 Many of the 13 vehicles that got launched off the cliff this year featured red, white, and blue alongside patriotic slogans, but others were personalized to represent the community. Sasha Richie, Car and Driver, 8 July 2022 If Tesla’s Cybertruck is an angular modernist home hanging off the cliff of public acceptance, the Lightning is prairie revival. Dan Neil, WSJ, 12 May 2022 Outside London, every kid in Casper’s field trip class has survived the fall off the cliff, but their teacher, Mr. Edwards, is looking rough, with glass embedded in his face and some sort of rebar sticking through his body. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2021 The stage faces the lake with a virtually vertical, heavily forested cliff rising up hundreds of feet to the rim of the cone behind it. Chris Johns, SPIN, 8 Aug. 2022 Evgeny pulled out a thin cigarette from a narrow golden case and looked out the window: cliff, sea, monastery. Vladimir Sorokin, Harper’s Magazine , 20 July 2022 For the most part, Sandberg doesn’t seem to be an example of the glass cliff in action. Maria Aspan, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2022 During a visit to Ireland, the pair had some downtime on the cliff walk at Howth. Stephanie Petit, Peoplemag, 2 Aug. 2022 See More 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
Kids Definition
cliff
noun
ˈklif
: a high steep surface of rock
cliff
noun
as in escarpment
a steep wall of rock, earth, or ice the cliff rises 200 feet from the island's south shore Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- escarpment
- crag
- precipice
- bluff
- palisade
- scarp
- barranca
- barranco
- scar
- embankment
- butte
- hogback
- cuesta
- tor
- declivity
- pitch
- bulwark
- drop-off