Precipitous Meaning
/pɹɪˈsɪpɪtəs/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
adjSteep, like a precipice
adjHeadlong
Sentence Examples
Your actions may be overly precipitous.
On the top of the precipitous shore, looking out to sea, was a large castle.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ drop in the stock market caused panic among many investors.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The road descended in a ____ drop that made even experienced drivers grip the steering wheel tightly.
Word Origin & History
From oblique stem of Latin praeceps, praecipit- + -ous, from obsolete French précipiteux, from Vulgar Latin *praecipitosus, from praecipitō, from praeceps, praecipit- + -ō, from prae- (“before”) + caput (“head”). Equivalent to precipice (“steep cliff, brink”) + -ous.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"About this time our journey began to be pleasant again. The weather warm, yet not disagreeably so, the grass abundant and of an excellent quality, the road not greatly precipitous, the scenery enchanting."
— 1861, E. J. Guerin, Mountain Charley, page 34:
"When the wind is in the right direction, hang-gliders launch themselves giddily into space from the precipitous bank."
— 1980, AA Book of British Villages, Drive Publications Ltd, page 102:
"[…]humans have been responsible for a precipitous decline of elephants, from perhaps 300,000 in the early 1970s to some 10,000 today."
— 2007 March, J. Michael Fay, “Ivory Wars: Last Stand in Zakouma”, in National Geographic, page 46:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ drop in the stock market caused panic among many investors.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The road descended in a ____ drop that made even experienced drivers grip the steering wheel tightly.