precariously
Americanadverb
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in an unstable, uncertain, or insecure way.
The two archrivals sit precariously balanced at the top of the league, either one likely to fall in the standings at any time.
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in a way that is dependent on the will of others.
They live precariously, subject to arrest by immigration authorities, and with taxes withheld from paychecks that they cannot reclaim.
-
in a way that is risky or dangerous; perilously.
He steadies the canoe as his son stands precariously in the bow, aiming his spear toward the river.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of precariously
Explanation
If something is happening or positioned precariously, it's in danger. A glass could be precariously balanced on the edge of a table. If something is on the verge of danger, then the word precariously fits. You're living precariously if you jump up and down on a lake that's not totally frozen. In your late teens, you're precariously close to the brink of adulthood. When you have one college class left, you're precariously close to having to find a job. Some people like living precariously: they enjoy danger. Other people just get stressed out and prefer to live carefully.
Vocabulary lists containing precariously
"The Most Dangerous Game" by Richard Connell
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A Raisin in the Sun
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The Lightning Thief
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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.
In Reneé Rapp–esque wire-framed glasses, he no longer looked like the youngest billionaire in recent history but rather a precariously employed part-time DJ with a menthol-cigarette problem.
From Slate ● Oct. 3, 2026
The debate has flared as precariously falling water levels have revealed vast sandbanks on the Rhine, Danube, Elbe and other rivers, severely impacting cargo shipping crucial for many industries.
From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026
He added a couple hundred more at the Shrine Auditorium and many more than that in Caracas, with student singers on benches that rose precariously to the top of a tall concert hall.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
The fuel hangs precariously from the sides of his bike, strapped on with rope and string.
From BBC ● Jun. 16, 2026
Behind the shower curtain, Zooey closed his eyes for a few seconds, as though his own small craft were listing precariously in the wake.
From "Franny and Zooey" by J. D. Salinger
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
