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Glite Dictionary
on the cusp of

on the cusp of

9 6.0
Close to reaching something important, like success or a big discovery
  • idiom
translation icon : a punto de
  • After years of preparation, the team is on the cusp of achieving their goal.

And they were on the cusp of an existential conflict.

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Examples

  • The modern industrial world is on the cusp of great changes to our current unsustainable way of life.

    Blog text (14)

  • I think we're on the cusp of another big bull market in gold.

  • So we are on the cusp of that right now.

    Gregory B. Sadler - That Philosophy Guy

  • We're on the cusp of something big here.

    Funkytown (2011)

  • In fact, mine is the generation that sat on the cusp of the Internet age.

  • The petroleum industry is on the cusp of an incredible youth movement.

    Academic text (2007)

  • The planet likely sits on the cusp of another Little Ice Age.

    Blog text (27)

  • I feel we're on the cusp of a real breakthrough, lad.

    Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)

  • We are on the cusp of a complete paradigm shift.

  • When it comes to information, the U.S. health-care system is on the cusp of a dramatic development that could substantially expand evidence-based care.

    Academic text (2011)

Synonyms

on the verge of
vson the cusp of
144 3.8

Very close to doing or feeling something

is about being in a change toward something significant
on the brink of
vson the cusp of
52 4.5

Very close to something important or dangerous happening

is similar but more neutral, not necessarily risky or dramatic
on the edge of
vson the cusp of
20 3.9

Very close to achieving something important

focuses more on the transitional state rather than only achievement
on the point of
vson the cusp of
4 3.6

About to do something very soon

is more general, relating to transitions or near achievements rather than action
at the threshold
vson the cusp of
3 4.2

About to begin something new or important

is broader, covering any close movement from one state to another

Antonyms

distantly
9 3.8

From far away in place, time, or family connection

How Close

on the verge of
144 3.8
on the cusp of
9 6.0
near
240 1.0

Surface Forms

on the cusp of main

Morphology

on + the + cusp + of

The meaning is directly compositional: 'cusp' denotes an imminent point of change and the prepositional frame 'on the ... of' marks being at that point or very near it, so a learner who knows the constituents can derive 'on the cusp of' = 'at the point of transition/very close to'. Although 'cusp' is a less frequent word, the semantic relation is transparent when the constituent meanings are known.

Etymology

On the cusp of comes from the word cusp, meaning a sharp point or edge. One popular image says you are standing right on that edge, a tiny step from something new, so on the cusp of means 'very close to' a change or a big achievement.