A1 noun Neutral #2,516 most common

threshold

/ˈθreʃ.həʊld/

A threshold is the physical area at the bottom of a doorway that you step over to enter a room or building. It also refers to the level or point at which something starts to happen or changes.

Examples

3 of 5
1

He paused for a moment at the threshold of the kitchen.

He stopped briefly at the entrance area of the kitchen.

2

The program is only available to those below a certain income threshold.

The program is only for people who earn less than a specific amount of money.

3

I feel like I am on the threshold of a new life.

I feel like I am just about to start a completely new life.

Word Family

Noun
threshold
Related
thrasher
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Memory Tip

Imagine 'holding' your foot at the 'thresh' (entrance) of a new house.

Quick Quiz

She felt she was standing on the ________ of a great discovery.

Correct!

The correct answer is: threshold

Examples

1

He paused for a moment at the threshold of the kitchen.

everyday

He stopped briefly at the entrance area of the kitchen.

2

The program is only available to those below a certain income threshold.

formal

The program is only for people who earn less than a specific amount of money.

3

I feel like I am on the threshold of a new life.

informal

I feel like I am just about to start a completely new life.

4

The experiment measures the exact threshold of human hearing.

academic

The study calculates the lowest level of sound that a human can hear.

5

We need to reach the sales threshold before we can expand.

business

We must hit a specific number of sales before the company grows.

Word Family

Noun
threshold
Related
thrasher

Common Collocations

cross the threshold to enter a building or start a new stage
pain threshold the point at which a person begins to feel pain
low threshold a very low level required for something to happen
income threshold a specific level of earnings
on the threshold of about to experience something new

Common Phrases

on the threshold of success

very close to achieving success

cross the threshold

to pass the entrance of a house

sensory threshold

the level at which a stimulus is detected

Often Confused With

threshold vs doorstep

A doorstep is the actual step outside the door, while a threshold is the piece of wood or stone right in the doorway.

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Usage Notes

Use 'threshold' when talking about the physical entrance to a room, or figuratively when describing a limit or the very beginning of a new experience.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes use 'threshold' to mean the door itself; remember it refers specifically to the floor area or the limit/point of change.

💡

Memory Tip

Imagine 'holding' your foot at the 'thresh' (entrance) of a new house.

📖

Word Origin

Derived from Old English 'therscold', which is related to the word 'thresh' (to beat grain), referring to the place where grain was beaten.

Grammar Patterns

countable noun plural: thresholds often followed by 'of' (threshold of...)
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Cultural Context

In many Western cultures, it is a tradition for a groom to carry his bride over the threshold of their new home for good luck.

Quick Quiz

She felt she was standing on the ________ of a great discovery.

Correct!

The correct answer is: threshold

Related Words

overcredant

C1

To accord excessive belief or trust to a statement, theory, or individual without sufficient verification. It describes the act of being overly ready to accept something as true, often disregarding critical analysis or conflicting evidence.

overmercery

C1

Relating to an excessive or obsessive focus on trade, commerce, and the buying or selling of goods. It describes a mindset where mercantile interests and the pursuit of commercial profit override social, ethical, or aesthetic considerations.

multihabacy

C1

To maintain a presence or existence across multiple habitats, environments, or distinct social spheres simultaneously. It describes the active process of adapting to and functioning within diverse physical or conceptual spaces.

foretheist

C1

To prefigure or establish a theological framework or belief in a deity before a main religious system becomes dominant. It is often used in academic contexts to describe the historical anticipation of a specific religious shift.

hyperultimness

C1

To reach or push a process, system, or state to its absolute final and most extreme limit of completion or perfection. It involves the deliberate act of maximizing every possible variable to achieve a definitive, ultimate result.

adnegation

C1

Adnegation is a formal term referring to the act of denial or refusal. It is most commonly used in legal, philosophical, or highly formal contexts to describe the rejection of a claim, request, or proposition.

synannous

C1

A botanical term used as a noun to refer to a plant species or specimen in which the leaves and flowers appear at the same time. It describes a specific phenological state where the vegetative and reproductive stages of a plant's annual cycle overlap perfectly.

unsumcide

C1

To intentionally dismantle a summary or total conclusion, often by breaking a consolidated result back down into its original disparate parts. It is typically used in analytical contexts to describe the invalidation or reversal of an aggregated data set.

innascible

C1

Describing something that cannot be born or has no beginning or origin. It is a highly specialized term used primarily in theology and philosophy to refer to uncreated or eternal beings.

nonanthropancy

C1

The state or quality of being non-human or the absence of human involvement, characteristics, and perspectives. It refers to entities, systems, or environments that exist or operate independently of human influence or anthropocentric values.

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