cliff

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A high, steep face of rock, especially one at the edge of the sea or a river.

   Grammar: Countable: use 'a cliff' or 'cliffs'.

   Patterns

   • a cliff face
   • at the top of a cliff
   • fall off a cliff

   The hotel sits on a cliff overlooking the ocean.

   We walked along the cliff path and watched the waves below.

   Erosion is slowly wearing away the cliffs.

2. 2nouncountablefigurative

   A situation or point where something drops suddenly and sharply, especially in prices or values.

   Grammar: Often used in business or economic contexts: 'a fiscal cliff'.

   Patterns

   • fall off a cliff
   • a cliff edge

   Sales fell off a cliff after the new tax was introduced.

   The company's profits went over a cliff last quarter.

Word forms

Common combinations

cliff edge

Don't stand too close to the cliff edge.

cliff face

Climbers scaled the sheer cliff face.

white cliffs

The white cliffs of Dover are famous.

fall off a cliff

The car nearly fell off a cliff.

Synonyms and how they differ

precipice

A very steep rock face or cliff, often used in literary contexts; more dramatic than 'cliff'.

bluff

A cliff with a broad, rounded face, especially one overlooking a river or plain.

crag

A steep, rugged rock face, often on a mountain; smaller and rougher than a cliff.

Word family

cliffy adjective

Having many cliffs; often used to describe a coastline.

Commonly confused: cliff or cliff?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “cliff”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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