Brink Meaning
/ˈbɹɪŋk/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe edge, margin, or border of a steep place, as of a precipice; a bank or edge.
nounThe edge or border.
Sentence Examples
When we were on the brink of starvation, they saved our lives.
The man was on the brink of death.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The hiker stood on the ____ of the steep cliff.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The country was on the ____ of a major economic crisis this year.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English brinke, brenke, from Old Norse *brenka, brekka, from Proto-Germanic *brinkǭ, *brinkaz (“hill, edge (of land)”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰren- (“to project”). Cognate with Dutch brink (“grassland”), regional German Brink, Icelandic brekka (“slope”); also Tocharian B prenke (“island”), Irish braine (“prow”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"And the appearance of it much comforted us, especially seeing so goodly a land, and wooded to the brink of the sea."
— 1622, Edward Winslow, William Bradford, Mourt's Relation: A Journal of the Pilgrims at Plymouth:
"As South Korea heads to the polls, can Lee Jae-myung bring the country back from the brink? [title]"
— 2025 June 1, Raphael Rashid, “As South Korea heads to the polls, can Lee Jae-myung bring the country back from the brink?”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The hiker stood on the ____ of the steep cliff.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The country was on the ____ of a major economic crisis this year.