Transcription
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
-
- [pri-kair-ee-uh s]
- /prɪˈkɛər i əs/
- /prɪˈkeə.ri.əs/
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [pri-kair-ee-uh s]
- /prɪˈkɛər i əs/
Definitions of precarious word
- adjective precarious dependent on circumstances beyond one's control; uncertain; unstable; insecure: a precarious livelihood. 1
- adjective precarious dependent on the will or pleasure of another; liable to be withdrawn or lost at the will of another: He held a precarious tenure under an arbitrary administration. 1
- adjective precarious exposed to or involving danger; dangerous; perilous; risky: the precarious life of an underseas diver. 1
- adjective precarious having insufficient, little, or no foundation: a precarious assumption. 1
- adjective precarious situation: unstable 1
- adjective precarious hazardous 1
Information block about the term
Origin of precarious
First appearance:
before 1640 One of the 44% oldest English words
First recorded in 1640-50, precarious is from the Latin word precārius “obtained by entreaty or mere favor” (hence uncertain). See prayer1
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Precarious
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
precarious popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 74% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
precarious usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for precarious
adj precarious
- all-important — crucial; vital
- anguished — Anguished means showing or feeling great mental suffering or physical pain.
- ashake — in a shaking manner
- bipedal — having two feet
- bundle of nerves — a very nervous person
adjective precarious
- aquake — Quaking.
- dodgy — inclined to dodge.
- doubtable — (uncommon) Capable of being doubted; doubtful; dubious; dubitable. See usage notes below.
- dynamite — A high explosive consisting of nitroglycerine mixed with an absorbent material and typically molded into sticks.
- emotionable — (rare, of a person or group or of their behavior or faculties) Particularly expressive of or affected by emotion.
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See also
Matching words
- Words starting with p
- Words starting with pr
- Words starting with pre
- Words starting with prec
- Words starting with preca
- Words starting with precar
- Words starting with precari
- Words starting with precario
- Words starting with precariou
- Words starting with precarious