on the verge of meaning and examples thumbnail

on the verge of meaning and examples

2025-11-21

Meaning

on the verge of means very close to doing something or experiencing something.
It expresses that something is about to happen soon.

Grammar and Usage

  • Part of speech: prepositional phrase
  • Structure: on the verge of + noun / gerund (V-ing)
    • on the verge of crying
    • on the verge of a breakthrough

It does not take a full clause directly (❌ on the verge of he cries).

Common Phrases

  • on the verge of tears
  • on the verge of collapse
  • on the verge of success
  • on the verge of giving up
  • on the verge of a discovery

Collocations

  • be on the verge of
  • seem on the verge of
  • stand on the verge of
  • become on the verge of

Examples

  1. She was on the verge of tears after hearing the news.
  2. The company is on the verge of bankruptcy.
  3. He looked like he was on the verge of falling asleep.
  4. Scientists are on the verge of making a major discovery.
  5. The team is on the verge of winning the championship.
  6. I was on the verge of giving up, but I kept going.
  7. The city was on the verge of collapse after the earthquake.
  8. They were on the verge of a huge breakthrough in negotiations.
  • about to
  • close to
  • nearly
  • on the brink of
  • on the point of

Antonym

  • far from
  • nowhere near