edge

EJ/ɛd͡ʒ/

Pluraledges

Verbedges, edging, edged

19 meanings of edge

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1
where it endsnouncountable
The outer end or side of something, where it stops, like the edge of a table or a cliff.
Like the line where a tabletop stops and the open air begins.
Don't put your cup so close to the edge of the table.
She stood near the edge of the pool and looked down.
UsageSay on the edge of or at the edge of.
Similarborder, rim, margin, brink, boundary
Oppositecenter, middle, interior
2
vergenouncountable
The part right next to a dividing line, or the start of a period of time.
Like the first few minutes after you wake up, before the day really begins.
We arrived at the edge of summer, when the days were still cool.
Their farm lay at the edge of the county.
UsageOften at the edge of town.
Similarfringe, border, verge, threshold
Oppositecenter, heart
Note
3
advantagenouncountable
A small advantage over someone else.
Like having a small head start in a race.
Her years of practice gave her an edge over the other players.
A good night's sleep can give you an edge before a big test.
UsageOften have the edge over someone.
Similaradvantage, lead
Oppositedisadvantage, handicap
4
sharp sidenounfigurativelycountable
The thin, sharp side of a blade that cuts.
Like the sharp side of a knife that slices through bread.
He ran his thumb carefully along the edge of the knife.
The blade's edge was so sharp it sliced the paper cleanly.
Similarblade
Note
5
win narrowlyverbtransitive
To win something by just a little.
Like crossing the finish line just one step ahead.
Our team hopes to edge the Tigers by a point or two.
She just edged her opponent in the final round.
UsageOften edge out a rival or just edge someone.
Similarpip, beat
Note
6
move slowlyverbintransitive
To move slowly and carefully, or to move something this way.
Like moving slowly across a room so a sleeping baby doesn't wake.
She began to edge toward the door, hoping no one would notice.
He edged closer to the campfire to keep warm.
UsageOften edge forward or edge away.
Similarinch, creep, sidle, shuffle, ease
Note
7
line (solid shape)nouncountable
A straight line where two flat sides of a shape meet.
Like the line you see where two walls of a room meet.
A cube has twelve edges and eight corners.
Each edge of the box is the same length.
Similarside
Note
8
sharpnessnouncountable
The sharpness of a blade, or a strong, keen feeling.
Like how a fresh blade cuts easily but a dull one does not.
The knife had lost its edge after years of use.
The long, cold walk gave an edge to our appetite.
UsageOften take the edge off: make something less strong.
Similarsharpness, keenness, bite, intensity
Oppositedullness, bluntness
Note
9
add borderverbtransitive
To be or put a border along the side of something.
Like sewing a ribbon all around the side of a cloth.
Gardeners edge the flower beds with smooth stones.
She edged the blanket with soft blue ribbon.
UsageSay edge something with bricks.
Similarborder, trim, line, fringe, hem
Note
10
local computingnounbefore a noun
The place where data is made, near the device, not in a faraway cloud.
Like making a decision right where something happens, instead of calling a faraway office first.
Smart cameras process their video at the edge, not in the cloud.
Storing data at the edge cuts the delay from sending it far away.
UsageOften edge computing.
Oppositecloud
Note
11
graph linknouncountable
A line that joins two points in a network or diagram.
Like a road that connects two towns on a map.
Each edge in the diagram joins two dots.
We can draw an edge between any two friends who know each other.
Similarlink, arc
Note

Less common meanings

12
trim lawnverbtransitive
To cut the grass neatly along the line where a lawn meets a path.
Like cutting a clean, straight line where two things meet.
On Saturdays they edge the lawn so it looks tidy.
He edged the grass along the driveway before mowing.
Similartrim
13
sharpenverbtransitive
To make the blade of a tool or weapon sharp.
Like rubbing a knife on a stone until it can slice easily.
Smiths edge each blade until it can cut through rope.
He edged the old axe so it would split wood again.
Similarsharpen, hone, whet, grind
Oppositeblunt, dull
14
annoy by delayverbslangfigurativelytransitive
To annoy someone by making them wait again and again.
Like waiting for a bus that keeps not coming until you want to scream.
Stop edging me and just tell me the news!
She loves to edge me by pushing our movie night back.
UsageThis is rude joking; in normal speech, say annoy.
Similarfrustrate, irritate, exasperate, annoy, vex
Oppositesoothe, placate
Note
15
delay climaxverbslangtransitive or intransitive
To keep yourself or someone else just short of the peak for a long time on purpose.
He likes to edge for as long as he can.
She edged her partner slowly for almost an hour.
Note
16
cricket shotnouncountable
A hit where the ball clips the side of the bat by accident.
Like a ball bouncing off the corner of a table instead of the flat top.
His edge flew straight to the fielder behind him.
A thin edge sent the ball past the keeper for four runs.
Similarnick, snick
Note
17
deflect the ballverbtransitive
To clip the ball with the side of the bat, sending it off at a slight angle.
Like a stick clipping a ball with its side instead of its flat face.
Batsmen sometimes edge the ball straight to the keeper.
He edged the delivery to first slip and walked off.
Similarnick, snick, glance, deflect
Note
18
verbarchaic
To urge someone on, or to make a feeling sharper and stronger.
By such reasonings, the simple were blinded, and the malicious edged.
a. 1628 (date written), John Hayward, The Life
19
noun
A state of strong sexual excitement held just before the peak.

Practice

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Origin

This word comes from Old English "eċġ." It goes back to an old root meaning "sharp."

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

Edge comes from Old English eċġ. en.wiktionary.org
Edge ultimately derives from a root meaning “sharp.” en.wiktionary.org