noun
cusp
kuhsp
noun
1
A critical point where something is about to change or begin.
"The company was on the cusp of a major breakthrough."
"She stood on the cusp of adulthood, about to graduate."
2
A sharp or pointed tip, including the pointed part of a tooth.
"The dentist examined the cusp of the molar."
How to Use Cusp
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe edge or turning point right before something happens or changes.
Common pairings
on the cusp of
cusp of change
Word Forms
cusped past tense, cusps plural, cusps singular
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “cusp”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The company was on the _____ of a major breakthrough.
Etymology
From Latin cuspis, "a point, a spear tip" — first borrowed into English through astrology, to describe the boundary between star signs.