threshold

American  

[thresh-ohld, thresh-hohld] / ˈθrɛʃ oʊld, ˈθrɛʃ hoʊld /

noun

• thresholds
  plural

1. the sill of a doorway.

2. the entrance to a house or building.

3. any place or point of entering or beginning.

   the threshold of a new career.

4. Also called limen.  Psychology, Physiology. the point at which a stimulus is of sufficient intensity to begin to produce an effect.

   the threshold of consciousness; a low threshold of pain.

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threshold British  

/ ˈθrɛʃˌhəʊld, ˈθrɛʃəʊld /

noun

1. Also called: doorsill.  a sill, esp one made of stone or hardwood, placed at a doorway

2. any doorway or entrance

3. the starting point of an experience, event, or venture

   on the threshold of manhood

4. psychol the strength at which a stimulus is just perceived Compare absolute threshold difference threshold

   the threshold of consciousness

5. 1. a level or point at which something would happen, would cease to happen, or would take effect, become true, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      threshold price

      threshold effect

6. 1. the minimum intensity or value of a signal, etc, that will produce a response or specified effect

      a frequency threshold

   2. ( as modifier )

      a threshold current

7. (modifier) designating or relating to a pay agreement, clause, etc, that raises wages to compensate for increases in the cost of living

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• thresholds
  plural

Etymology

Origin of threshold

First recorded before 900; Middle English threschold, Old English threscold, threscwald; cognate with Old Norse threskǫldr, dialectal Swedish träskvald; akin to thresh in earlier sense “trample, tread”; -old, -wald element of obscure origin

Explanation

A threshold is what you step across when you enter a room. A threshold takes you from one place into another, and when you're about to start something new, you're also on a threshold. A threshold is a point of departure or transition. Graduation can mark a threshold — when you graduate from circus school, you're standing at the threshold of your new career as a trapeze artist. Another kind of threshold is a limit or boundary. If you have a high threshold for pain, you can tolerate a lot of it, and your dentist can drill away without worrying about your squirming and howling.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

threshold thresholds

The Institute for Supply Management’s purchasing index, a broad gauge of manufacturing activity, has been above the threshold for manufacturing-sector expansion for seven straight months.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026

"We're not saying people are suddenly going to become unwell when we cross a certain threshold," he said.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 15, 2026

While a few spots in south-east England could still reach their heatwave temperature threshold values of 27 or 28 Celsius on Saturday, many areas will be 10-13 degrees Celsius cooler than on Thursday.

From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026

The city uses live fuel moisture, which is the percentage of water in plants, as a threshold for triggering the order.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026

This latest discovery of a new and baffling rhyme concerning moonlight, the north and an unknown threshold nagged at his brain.

From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques

It levies harsh penalties for surpassing certain player salary thresholds, adding extensive roster-building restrictions to straightforward fines.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026

“Medicaid asset and income thresholds can prompt families to reassess their plans,” the law firm adds.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 6, 2026

"Warning labels on products exceeding nutrient thresholds could help parents navigate the toddler food environment and might encourage manufacturers to reformulate these products."

From Science Daily ● Jul. 29, 2026

However a few locations are still experiencing their third with temperatures at Usk, Monmouthshire and Exeter, Devon reaching heatwave thresholds for the 20th consecutive day on Friday.

From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026

They only looked different on holidays, when girls decorated their family’s paths and thresholds with painted patterns called alpanas, just as their ancestors had done for generations.

From "Rickshaw Girl" by Mitali Perkins

Related Words

• brink
• verge