Standard Lemma guide

perilously

adv · 2 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.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • CMU ARPABET: P EH1 R AH0 L AH0 S L IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adv

Meaning 1

In a perilous manner.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adverb

Meaning 2

in a dangerous manner

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he came dangerously close to falling off the ledge

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: hazardously, dangerously

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Middle English perilously; equivalent to perilous + -ly.

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: опасно (opasno) — in a perilous manner
  • Bulgarian: рисковано (riskovano) — in a perilous manner
  • Icelandic: hættulega — in a perilous manner
  • Icelandic: háskalega — in a perilous manner