Word
perilous
Phoneticsper·ilous
US/ˈpɛɹəɫəs/
UK/pˈɛɹɪləs/
Definition
adj. full of danger or risk. You use this to describe a situation or journey that could be very harmful.
adj. fraught with danger or risk of injury, loss, or destruction. Often used in literary or formal contexts to describe physical journeys or precarious situations.
Examples
“The mountain climbers faced a perilous journey to the top.”
“The small boat made a perilous crossing through the stormy waters of the channel.”
“Navigating the narrow mountain pass during a blizzard proved to be a perilous undertaking that tested the limits of the team's endurance and equipment.”
Examples
simple
“The mountain climbers faced a perilous journey to the top.”
contextual
“The small boat made a perilous crossing through the stormy waters of the channel.”
complex
“Navigating the narrow mountain pass during a blizzard proved to be a perilous undertaking that tested the limits of the team's endurance and equipment.”
Usage
Typically used attributively before a noun or predicatively after a linking verb like 'be' or 'become'.
Real-World Examples
“Academic research all over the world, including here in Australia, indicates young people are especially prone to loneliness and its perilous repercussions for mental and physical health.” “If anything, Grande is having a blast - teetering around in perilous heels, blowing kisses to the audience and embracing the physical and vocal demands of her show.” Etymology
From Middle English perilous, from Old French perilleus, equivalent to peril + -ous, from the noun peril, or from Latin perīculōsus. Doublet of periculous.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/perilous