verge
The edge of something, or the moment just before something happens.
verge in a sentence
- Maya was on the verge of tears when her sandcastle collapsed.
- The kettle was on the verge of boiling when the doorbell rang and made us all jump.
Try an 11+ style question
Verbal reasoning papers often ask about a word like this.
Which word is closest in meaning to verge?
- Aedge
- Bheart
- Ccentre
- Dmiddle
Show the answer
A: edge. The other three mean the opposite of verge.
Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to verge?
- Aedge
- Bcentre
- Cborder
- Dbrink
Show the answer
B: centre. The other three mean nearly the same as verge.
Words that mean something similar
edge, brink, border
Words that mean the opposite
centre, middle, heart
More words about places & settings
- void: A completely empty space.
- yonder: Over there, some distance away.
- adjacent: Right next to something else.
- ajar: Slightly open.
- aroma: A pleasant smell.
- austere: Very plain and strict, without comfort or decoration.
- barren: Empty and bare, where nothing can grow.
- barricade: A barrier built quickly to block the way.
More words to explore
Sitting the 11+ in Kent, Medway or Buckinghamshire?
Plain-English guides to each test, from the councils’ own pages: Kent Test · Medway Test · Bucks Secondary Transfer Test