verge
1 Americannoun
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the edge, rim, or margin of something.
the verge of a desert; to operate on the verge of fraud.
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the limit or point beyond which something begins or occurs; brink.
on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
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a limiting belt, strip, or border of something.
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British. a narrow strip of turf bordering on a pathway, sidewalk, roadway, etc.
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a decorative border, as on or around an object, structural part, etc.
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limited room or scope for something.
an action within the verge of one's abilities.
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an area or district subject to a particular jurisdiction.
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History/Historical. an area or district in England embracing the royal palace, being the jurisdiction of the Marshalsea Court.
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the part of a sloping roof that projects beyond the gable wall.
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Architecture. the shaft of a column or colonette.
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a rod, wand, or staff, especially one carried as an emblem of authority or of the office of a bishop, dean, or the like.
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Horology. a palletlike lever formerly used in inexpensive pendulum clocks.
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Obsolete. a stick or wand held in the hand of a person swearing fealty to a feudal lord on being admitted as a tenant.
verb (used without object)
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to be on the edge or margin; border.
Our property verges on theirs.
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to come close to or be in transition to some state, quality, etc. (usually followed byon ).
a statesman who verged on greatness; a situation that verged on disaster.
verb (used with object)
noun
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an edge or rim; margin
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a limit beyond which something occurs; brink
on the verge of ecstasy
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a grass border along a road
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an enclosing line, belt, or strip
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architect the edge of the roof tiles projecting over a gable
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architect the shaft of a classical column
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an enclosed space
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horology the spindle of a balance wheel in a vertical escapement, found only in very early clocks
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English legal history
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the area encompassing the royal court that is subject to the jurisdiction of the Lord High Steward
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a rod or wand carried as a symbol of office or emblem of authority, as in the Church
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a rod held by a person swearing fealty to his lord on becoming a tenant, esp of copyhold land
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verb
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to be near (to)
to verge on chaos
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to serve as the edge of (something)
this narrow strip verges the road
verb
Etymology
Origin of verge1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English virge, verge “shaft, column, rod (hence boundary or jurisdiction symbolized by a steward's rod), rod of office, penis,” from Middle French, from Latin virga “shoot, twig, branch, rod”
Origin of verge2
First recorded in 1600–10; from Latin vergere “to turn, bend, be inclined”
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.
Konik noted that Nike is on the verge of becoming a dividend aristocrat, referring to companies referring to companies that have increased payouts to investors every year for at least the last 25 years.
From Barron's
Especially when it’s revealed that he is on the verge of taking a three-month sabbatical, helmetless, to the Badlands of South Dakota.
Madrid's victory eased the pressure on Alonso, who scraped through to 2026 at the helm despite reports he was on the verge of being sacked after a run of inconsistent form.
From Barron's
It eased the pressure on Alonso, who scraped through to 2026 at the helm despite reports he was on the verge of being sacked after a run of inconsistent form.
From Barron's
He is under contract at the club until 2029 but with Semenyo on the verge of joining the club, Bobb could find his chances further limited and may instead opt for a move away.
From BBC
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.
