adj · 5 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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/pɹɪˈsɪpɪtəs/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:P R IH0 S IH1 P IH0 T AH0 S
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Steep, like a precipice
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
a precipitous cliff
a precipitous mountain
a precipitous decline
a precipitous drop
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Headlong
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
a precipitous fall
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Hasty; rash; quick; sudden
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
precipitous attempts
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adjective satellite
Meaning 4
extremely steep
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
an abrupt canyon
the precipitous rapids of the upper river
the precipitous hills of Chinese paintings
a sharp drop
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: abrupt, sharp
Antonyms: none provided
5
adjective satellite
Meaning 5
done with very great haste and without due deliberation- Shakespeare- Arthur Geddes
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
hasty marriage seldom proveth well
hasty makeshifts take the place of planning
rejected what was regarded as an overhasty plan for reconversion
wondered whether they had been rather precipitate in deposing the king
From obsolete French précipiteux, from Vulgar Latin *praecipitōsus, from praeceps, praecipit- (“ precipice”) + -ōsus (“-ful, -ous”), from prae- (“before”) + caput (“head”). Equivalent to precipice (“steep cliff, brink”) + -ous.
Across languages
Translations
38 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
много стръмен
(mnogo strǎmen)
— steep, like a precipice
Bulgarian:
отвесен
(otvesen)
— steep, like a precipice
Chinese Mandarin:
陡峭
(dǒuqiào)
— steep, like a precipice
Chinese Mandarin:
斷崖式 /断崖式
(duànyáshì)
— steep, like a precipice
Esperanto:
krutega
— steep, like a precipice
Finnish:
jyrkkä
— steep, like a precipice
French:
abrupt
— steep, like a precipice
French:
escarpé
— steep, like a precipice
French:
raide
— steep, like a precipice
German:
abrupt
— steep, like a precipice
German:
abschüssig
— steep, like a precipice
German:
jäh
— steep, like a precipice
German:
schroff
— steep, like a precipice
German:
steil
— steep, like a precipice
German:
steilwandig
— steep, like a precipice
Ancient Greek:
ἀπότομος
(apótomos)
— steep, like a precipice
Hungarian:
meredek
— steep, like a precipice
Latin:
praeceps
— steep, like a precipice
Māori:
tūparipari
— steep, like a precipice
Māori:
tāhekeheke
— steep, like a precipice
Māori:
taparere
— steep, like a precipice
Old English:
stealc
— steep, like a precipice
Russian:
отвесный
(otvesnyj)
— steep, like a precipice
Russian:
крутой
(krutoj)
— steep, like a precipice
Spanish:
escarpado
— steep, like a precipice
Spanish:
precipitoso
— steep, like a precipice
Ottoman Turkish:
صارپ
(sarp)
— steep, like a precipice
