cliff

1 of 2

noun

ˈklif How to pronounce cliff (audio)
Synonyms of cliffnext
: a very steep, vertical, or overhanging face of rock, earth, or ice : precipice
cliffy
ˈkli-fē How to pronounce cliff (audio)
adjective

cliffy

2 of 2

adjective

ˈkli-fē How to pronounce cliffy (audio)
-er/-est
: characterized by or abounding in cliffs : steep, craggy
a cliffy shoreline

Synonyms of cliff

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Noun

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of cliff in a Sentence

Noun 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Having confidence to stay on throttle on blind turns with a cliff on your side is a whole new level of confidence. — Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 News of the funding cliff prompted a pair of lawmakers to reach across the aisle and propose a rescue plan in an opinion piece last week for the New York Times. — Max Zahn, ABC News, 2 July 2026 Authorities said the cliffs surrounding the pool rise between 10 and 60 feet, while the water averages just 37 degrees. — Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2026 Enola also realizes that Tewkesbury's family must have hidden the gold in Maltese cliff, because Tewkesbury previously told her stories about a treasure hidden there. — Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for cliff

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English clif, from Old English; akin to Old High German klep cliff, Old Norse klif

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cliff was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing cliff

Rhymes for cliff

See All Rhymes for cliff

Browse Nearby Words

clies
cliff
cliff brake
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cliff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cliff. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

cliff

noun
ˈklif How to pronounce cliff (audio)
: a high steep surface of rock, earth, or ice

More from Merriam-Webster on cliff

Nglish: Translation of cliff for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cliff

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