verge on

USAGE SUMMARY

"verge on" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to mean "to be close to or nearly something". For example: "The exam was so difficult that it verged on the impossible."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Arts

Books

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Describing himself "on the verge, on the verge, on the verge", Mark Strong's Astrov gives vent to the turbulence that expands our perceptions of a merely soulful Chekhov.

The Economist

They verge on the grotesque.

The New York Times - Arts

A few verge on cheesecake.

The New York Times - Books

So sure, the clothes verge on crafty.

The New York Times

Some speeches verge on workmanlike melodrama, too.

The New York Times

Pity can sometimes verge on disgust.

The New Yorker

Now they verge on spectacular.

The New York Times - Arts

Unfunded liabilities verge on a stratospheric $20 billion.

The New York Times

This would verge on white elephant status.

The Guardian

Paintings by Santo verge on Photorealism.

The New York Times

They verge on low-relief Minimalist sculpture.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "verge on" to express that something is approaching a particular state or quality without fully reaching it. For example, "His behavior verged on rudeness" indicates that his behavior was close to being rude but perhaps not entirely so.

Common error

Avoid using "verge on" when you mean something has fully become a certain state. "Verge on" implies a near approach, not a complete transformation. Use a more direct verb if the subject has fully adopted the characteristic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "verge on" functions as a verb phrase used to indicate that something is approaching or bordering a particular state, quality, or condition. According to Ludwig AI, it implies nearness without complete attainment.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Arts

19%

Books

10%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Science

9%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "verge on" is a versatile verb phrase used to describe something approaching a particular state or quality without fully reaching it. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and frequently employed across various contexts, particularly in News & Media. While it is appropriate for both formal and informal writing, you can replace it with alternatives like "border on" or "approach" to convey similar meanings. A crucial point to remember is that using "verge on" implies approximation and should not be used when the subject has fully adopted the characteristic being described.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

border on

Indicates similarity by expressing nearness to a specific state or quality.

verge upon

A less common but grammatically interchangeable form of "verge on".

approach

Suggests drawing near to a particular condition or characteristic.

be on the brink of

Implies a critical point just before a significant change or event.

come close to

Indicates a near miss or narrowly avoided state.

tend toward

Suggests an inclination or direction towards a certain state.

lean toward

Similar to "tend toward", emphasizing a directional pull.

approximate to

Highlights the similarity but not exactness of the approached state.

nearly be

Simple expression for almost being something.

risk being

Highlights the potential negative consequence of almost reaching a certain state.

FAQs

How can I use "verge on" in a sentence?

Use "verge on" to indicate that something is close to becoming a particular state or quality. For example, "The project's complexity verged on the unmanageable" suggests the project was nearly unmanageable.

What are some alternatives to "verge on"?

Alternatives to "verge on" include "border on", "approach", or "come close to". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "verge on" in formal writing?

Yes, "verge on" is appropriate for formal writing. It's a sophisticated way to express that something is nearing a particular state without fully reaching it.

What's the difference between "verge on" and "be"?

"Be" indicates a definite state, while "verge on" suggests an approximation or near state. Saying "His actions were illegal" states a fact, but "His actions verged on the illegal" implies they were close to being illegal but possibly not definitively so.