verge

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /vɜːd͡ʒ/
• (US) IPA ^(key): /vɝd͡ʒ/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

Noun

Singular verge

Plural verges

1. The verge of something its edge.

   Ahmed was riding his bicycle on the verge of the road when a car almost hit him.

2. If something is "on the verge" of happening, it is very close to starting. (This expression is often used when something bad or dangerous is about to happen.)

   The country is on the verge of being destroyed by crazy politicians.

   I was on the verge of calling the police because of the yelling and screaming next door, but the police showed up on their own.

   After her husband died, she felt like she was on the verge of tears all the time.

Verb

Plain form verge

Third-person singular verges

Past tense verged

Past participle verged

Present participle verging

1. (intransitive) When a thing verges on something else, the two things are on the edge of being the same.

   The judge told the teenager, "Your behavior verged on a serious crime, but I will give you one more chance because I think you really just acted like a stupid teenager."

   Your plan verges on the insane. There's no way it will work.