threshold
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 5He paused for a moment at the threshold of the kitchen.
He stopped briefly at the entrance area of the kitchen.
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.
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.
Antonyms
Word Family
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
He paused for a moment at the threshold of the kitchen.
everydayHe stopped briefly at the entrance area of the kitchen.
The program is only available to those below a certain income threshold.
formalThe program is only for people who earn less than a specific amount of money.
I feel like I am on the threshold of a new life.
informalI feel like I am just about to start a completely new life.
The experiment measures the exact threshold of human hearing.
academicThe study calculates the lowest level of sound that a human can hear.
We need to reach the sales threshold before we can expand.
businessWe must hit a specific number of sales before the company grows.
Antonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
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
A doorstep is the actual step outside the door, while a threshold is the piece of wood or stone right in the doorway.
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
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
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