Definition of precariously in English:
precariously
adverb prɪˈkɛːrɪəsliprəˈkɛriəsli
1In a way that is not securely in position and is likely to fall or collapse.
the homes hung precariously over the edge of a huge crevice
precariously stacked towers of blocks
Example sentencesExamples
- The stage resembled an oblong squash court with seating perched precariously on scaffolding above the set.
- These works portray a San Francisco of exaggerated hills, where buildings cling precariously to steeply sloping cliffs.
- The form as a whole thrusts out from the neat pedestal on which it precariously rests.
- Entire clusters of painted wood strips were raised off the ground by a pair of precariously positioned folding tables.
- In the first of many gripping scenes, a horrendous accident leaves all three hanging precariously by one rope.
- They sit precariously on top of one another on a square of unpainted plywood around which are scattered little metal balls of varying sizes.
- Iceland sits precariously atop the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a vast undersea mountain range whose subsurface volcanoes account for much of the country's tumultuous terrain.
- They propel themselves forward without toppling the wine bottles perched precariously on their hats.
- The smaller stage was covered with equipment—too many guitars to number, a series of keyboards, pedals, and a precariously perched laptop.
- The painting depicts two naked figures balancing precariously on a fish-filled wooden boat.
- 1.1 In a way that is uncertain or dependent on chance.
a country poised precariously between economic boom and social catastrophe
the team clung precariously to their lead
Example sentencesExamples
- The professor and his wife find their union precariously balanced between life and death.
- Even if programmatically attractive, this is a precariously fragile hypothesis.
- The associations she infers are numerous—and precariously contradictory.
- Its economy is precariously dependent upon foreign trade, and foreign trade is an immediate casualty of war.
- In a culture like theirs, so precariously balanced between nature and culture, such reactionary Calvinist rhetoric seems odd.
- They were always careful not to saw away the branch upon which their own livelihood was precariously, if tenaciously, hanging.
- On the basis of this analysis, it would seem that the answer lies precariously between the last two possibilities.
- His performance here finds him teetering precariously between majesty and ludicrousness.
- Labour backbenchers precariously hanging on to marginal seats began to stir.
- It gives the band an ability to loose the reigns and do something that precariously walks the line between excitement and embarrassment.
Definition of precariously in US English:
precariously
adverbprəˈkerēəslēprəˈkɛriəsli
1In a way that is not securely in position and is likely to fall or collapse.
the homes hung precariously over the edge of a huge crevice
precariously stacked towers of blocks
Example sentencesExamples
- In the first of many gripping scenes, a horrendous accident leaves all three hanging precariously by one rope.
- The smaller stage was covered with equipment—too many guitars to number, a series of keyboards, pedals, and a precariously perched laptop.
- The stage resembled an oblong squash court with seating perched precariously on scaffolding above the set.
- The form as a whole thrusts out from the neat pedestal on which it precariously rests.
- The painting depicts two naked figures balancing precariously on a fish-filled wooden boat.
- These works portray a San Francisco of exaggerated hills, where buildings cling precariously to steeply sloping cliffs.
- Entire clusters of painted wood strips were raised off the ground by a pair of precariously positioned folding tables.
- Iceland sits precariously atop the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a vast undersea mountain range whose subsurface volcanoes account for much of the country's tumultuous terrain.
- They sit precariously on top of one another on a square of unpainted plywood around which are scattered little metal balls of varying sizes.
- They propel themselves forward without toppling the wine bottles perched precariously on their hats.
- 1.1 In a way that is uncertain or dependent on chance.
a country poised precariously between economic boom and social catastrophe
the team clung precariously to their lead
Example sentencesExamples
- The professor and his wife find their union precariously balanced between life and death.
- On the basis of this analysis, it would seem that the answer lies precariously between the last two possibilities.
- Even if programmatically attractive, this is a precariously fragile hypothesis.
- It gives the band an ability to loose the reigns and do something that precariously walks the line between excitement and embarrassment.
- Its economy is precariously dependent upon foreign trade, and foreign trade is an immediate casualty of war.
- His performance here finds him teetering precariously between majesty and ludicrousness.
- The associations she infers are numerous—and precariously contradictory.
- In a culture like theirs, so precariously balanced between nature and culture, such reactionary Calvinist rhetoric seems odd.
- Labour backbenchers precariously hanging on to marginal seats began to stir.
- They were always careful not to saw away the branch upon which their own livelihood was precariously, if tenaciously, hanging.