border on
phrasal verb
bordered on; bordering on; borders on
1
: to have a border on (something) : to lie on a boundary of (something)
The area my ancestors come from borders on the Atacama Desert.
2
: to be very like (something) : to come very close to being (something)
The play's dialog borders on the ridiculous.
an enthusiasm bordering on fanaticism
Examples of border on in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This particular cat's involvement borders on slapstick, but the underlying message has clearly struck a chord.
—
Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025
Pope Francis branded Gaza crisis 'serious and shameful' Israel launched its siege of Gaza after militants affiliated with Hamas − which controls the territory on the border of Israel and Egypt − overran Israel’s borders on Oct. 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostage.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 29 May 2025
Adam Schiff, known for his anti-Trump rhetoric that borders on hatred, played a significant role in the House of Representatives during Trump’s impeachment.
—Matt Klink, Oc Register, 28 May 2025
Mackey's aggressive misogyny borders on sociopathy.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 24 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for border on
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Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025
Pope Francis branded Gaza crisis 'serious and shameful' Israel launched its siege of Gaza after militants affiliated with Hamas − which controls the territory on the border of Israel and Egypt − overran Israel’s borders on Oct. 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostage.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 29 May 2025
Adam Schiff, known for his anti-Trump rhetoric that borders on hatred, played a significant role in the House of Representatives during Trump’s impeachment.
—Matt Klink, Oc Register, 28 May 2025
Mackey's aggressive misogyny borders on sociopathy.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 24 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for border on
Cite this Entry
“Border on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/border%20on. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.
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