What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
brink
Example
He stood on the brink of the cliff, looking down at the vast expanse below. [brink: noun]
Example
The company is on the brink of bankruptcy if they don't secure new investors. [brink: prepositional phrase]
precipice
Example
The hiker carefully navigated along the narrow path near the precipice. [precipice: noun]
Example
The country is teetering on the precipice of political instability. [precipice: prepositional phrase]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Brink is more commonly used than precipice in everyday language. Brink is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while precipice is less common and may be more formal or literary.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between brink and precipice?
While brink is typically associated with a neutral and informal tone, precipice is less common and may be perceived as more formal or literary.
