Phrase guide

on the point of

prep · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

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Pronunciation

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1

prep

Meaning 1

Very near to; ready to; just about to; such that something is imminent.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • The old building seemed to be on the point of collapse.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: at the point of, upon the point of, on the cusp, on the verge, on the brink, ready

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: عَلَى وَشٰك (ʕalā wašāk) — very near to
  • Arabic: سنة و (sena we) — very near to
  • Finnish: -pisteessä — very near to
  • Māori: whano — very near to
  • Māori: hono — very near to
  • Polish: na granicy — very near to
  • Russian: на гра́ни (na gráni) — very near to
  • Scottish Gaelic: an impis — very near to