Meaning & use
meet threshold
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Meanings
phrasetransitive
to reach or satisfy a required level, amount, or standard
Grammar: Takes an object: meet a threshold. Often used with 'the' or a possessive: meet the threshold, meet their threshold.
Patterns
- meet a threshold
- meet the threshold for something
- meet the threshold to do something
The company failed to meet the threshold for the tax break.
Applicants must meet a minimum threshold of five years' experience.
To qualify for the grant, your income must meet the threshold set by the government.
phrasetransitive
to reach the point at which something begins or takes effect
Grammar: Takes an object: meet the threshold. Often used in legal, medical, or technical contexts.
Patterns
- meet the threshold
- meet the threshold for something
The temperature must meet the threshold before the alarm activates.
If the pain meets the threshold for surgery, the doctor will operate.
Only when the evidence meets the threshold will the case go to trial.
Word forms
| third person singular | meets threshold |
|---|---|
| past tense | met threshold |
| past participle | met threshold |
| -ing form | meeting threshold |
Common combinations
- meet the minimum threshold
- You must meet the minimum threshold to pass the test.
- meet the threshold for admission
- Her grades did not meet the threshold for admission to the program.
- fail to meet the threshold
- The proposal failed to meet the threshold for approval.
- meet a threshold requirement
- The loan requires you to meet a threshold requirement of $50,000 in assets.
Synonyms and how they differ
- reach a threshold
- Similar, but 'reach' focuses on arriving at a point, while 'meet' emphasizes satisfying a requirement.
- satisfy a threshold
- More formal; often used in legal or official contexts.
Opposites
Word family
- threshold noun
- the level or point at which something starts or changes
Commonly confused: meet threshold or meet the deadline?
meet threshold vs meet the deadline
Similar structure but different meaning: 'meet the deadline' means finish by a certain time, not reach a level.
Practice
The charity must ______ the threshold for receiving government funding.
Choose one answer.
After the modal 'must', we use the base form 'meet'. 'Met' is past tense, 'meeting' is the -ing form, and 'meets' is third person singular, none of which fit after 'must'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “meet threshold”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.