# cliff

/ˈkɫɪf/ (US) · /klˈɪf/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cliff
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. rock face

noun · CEFR B1

a very steep, high wall of rock, often next to the sea.

For teachers: a vertical or nearly vertical rock face, frequently occurring at the interface of land and sea or along a mountain ridge.

- They walked carefully along the edge of the cliff to look at the waves below.
- The limestone cliffs rose hundreds of feet above the Atlantic, providing a nesting ground for thousands of migratory seabirds.

## Examples

- The hikers stood at the edge of the cliff to see the ocean.
- The hotel is built on a high cliff overlooking the beach, providing guests with a beautiful view of the sunrise.
- The coastal path follows the jagged edge of the cliff, where centuries of erosion have carved deep inlets and dangerous overhangs into the limestone.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.