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Synonyms

on the verge of

Idioms  

  1. Close to, on the brink of, as in I was on the verge of calling the doctor when he suddenly got better, or Sara was on the verge of tears when she heard the news. This term uses verge in the sense of “the brink or border of something.” [Mid-1800s]

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

On the verge of half-time, the tries just kept on coming.

From BBC • Apr. 19, 2026

On the verge of saying what she really thinks about the major studios, Bonnie changes her mind.

From Salon • Dec. 18, 2025

On the verge of falling behind 3-0 in the best-of-seven series, Arizona tied the score on Lourdes Gurriel Jr.’s RBI double in the seventh.

From Washington Times • Oct. 19, 2023

On the verge of turning 33, Andersen has taken three different organizations to the playoffs over his lengthy career.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 28, 2023

On the verge of blending with the universe I hear the whispers around the ridges of consciousness.

From "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.