Standing at the edge of the cliff, we watched the waves crash on the shore far below.
rock climbers scaling steep cliffs
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Photo by Barbara Smits/Shutterstock Miner’s Beach Shingleton, Michigan Sandstone cliffs stained red, blue, and brown by minerals line Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore on Lake Superior in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.—Elaine Glusac, AFAR Media, 6 June 2025 Markets rose in early trading Friday, with S&P 500 futures up 0.8% and bond yields nudging higher, reflecting investor confidence that the economy is cooling gradually — not falling off a cliff.—Shannon Carroll, Quartz, 6 June 2025 Nestled on a cliff with sensational views of the Pacific on the Hamakua Coast, the Waterfalling Estate became home to the Islanders.—EW.com, 5 June 2025 Another attraction different from its neighbors, Santa Rosa’s Lobo Canyon is reported to feature spectacular sandstone cliffs, but the trek to the canyon is described by the Park Service as a strenuous 9.6-mile round-trip hike.—Paul Bersebach, Oc Register, 4 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for cliff
Word History
Etymology
Middle English clif, from Old English; akin to Old High German klep cliff, Old Norse klif
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of cliff was
before the 12th century
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