the brink

noun

: the edge at the top of a steep cliff

—usually used figuratively to refer to a point that is very close to the occurrence of something very bad or (less commonly) very good

He nearly lost everything because of his drug addiction, but his friends helped to pull him back from the brink.

The two nations are on the brink of war.

Doctors may be on the brink of finding a cure for this disease.

an animal that has been brought/pulled back from the brink of extinction

Examples of the brink in a Sentence

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.

Following Queen Elizabeth’s death in September 2022, William and Kate found themselves on the brink of the roles of King and Queen. —

Simon Perry, People.com, 11 Dec. 2024 Related article These groups are working to save bees and butterflies on the brink. —

Rachel Ramirez, CNN, 10 Dec. 2024 But that heritage is now on the brink, taxed by business mistakes, manufacturing delays, safety lapses, and a loss of strategic clarity. —

Jim Osman, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024 His strong play has not only propelled Minnesota to the brink of securing a playoff spot but also kept the 12-1 Detroit Lions within striking distance for both the NFC North title and the top overall seed. —

Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 8 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for the brink