threshold
noun
thresh·old
| \ ˈthresh-ˌhōld
, ˈthre-ˌshōld\
, ˈthre-ˌshōld\
Definition of threshold
3a
: the point at which a physiological or psychological effect begins to be produced
has a high threshold for pain
b
: a level, point, or value above which something is true or will take place and below which it is not or will not
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Examples of threshold in a Sentence
… we still hadn't grasped that we had crossed a threshold where it no longer mattered what passport you carried, that you were young and loved, … or that you were a noncombatant.
— Paul Salopek, National Geographic, April 2008
As we speak, the very worst of humanity is on the threshold of acquiring the most powerful weapons in history—this is a fear and a consideration to be taken very seriously.
— Charles Krauthammer, New Republic, 29 Apr. 2002
We thought that we were on the threshold of an age of space travel. But the greatest impact of the trip to the moon was on how we view the Earth.
— Suzannah Lessard, Wilson Quarterly, Summer 2001
He stepped across the threshold.
If your income rises above a certain threshold, your tax rate also rises.
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Recent Examples on the Web
The state’s caucus rules require a candidate to receive support from at least 15 percent of the voters in the room; backers of candidates who fail to meet the 15 percent threshold are then freed to choose a different candidate. — Reid J. Epstein, New York Times, "Caucuses in Iowa Won’t Include Absentee Participation, D.N.C. Says," 30 Aug. 2019 More than a handful of others did not meet either threshold. — Sarah Ewall-wice, CBS News, "What's next for the presidential contenders who didn't make it to the September debate?," 29 Aug. 2019 In 2017, in an effort to rein in high blood pressure, the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology lowered the threshold for what's considered to be high blood pressure, from 140/90 mm/Hg to 130/80 mm/Hg. — NBC News, "Uncontrolled high blood pressure is cutting into heart disease progress," 27 Aug. 2019 So could Tulsi Gabbard, who has met the donor threshold but needs two more polls. — Brian Stelter, CNN, "Will the ABC debate be one night or two? The question is creating anxiety for the Democratic candidates," 27 Aug. 2019 To continue reading this story, TRY IT NOW The new draft sets a minimum threshold for how much business activity an employer must have within San Antonio to provide the benefit. — Joshua Fechter, ExpressNews.com, "San Antonio has a new draft of the paid sick leave ordinance," 21 Aug. 2019 This year’s counts will be announced in a few weeks, but for the past three years, the average population has topped 3,090, which is the threshold for delisting. — Tom Stienstra, SFChronicle.com, "Bears, elk, sharks crown landmark wildlife surge," 17 Aug. 2019 The Karman line is an internationally accepted threshold for space, which is 100 km, or 62 miles above the surface of the Earth. — Richard Tribou, orlandosentinel.com, "Virgin Galactic gives inside look to new spaceport," 16 Aug. 2019 Scientists worry this is uncomfortably close to the threshold for tree loss, of between 20 and 25%, beyond which deforestation begins to feed on itself, turning much of the Amazon basin into drier savannah known as cerrado. — The Economist, "Deforestation in the Amazon may soon begin to feed on itself," 15 Aug. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'threshold.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for threshold
threshold
noun
English Language Learners Definition of threshold
: a piece of wood, metal, or stone that forms the bottom of a door and that you walk over as you enter a room or building
: the point or level at which something begins or changes
See the full definition for threshold in the English Language Learners Dictionary
threshold
noun
thresh·old
| \ ˈthresh-ˌhōld
\
\
Kids Definition of threshold
1
: the sill of a door
2
: a point or place of beginning or entering
Ralph had a scary feeling he was on the threshold of adventure.— Beverly Cleary, The Mouse and the Motorcycle
threshold
noun
thresh·old
| \ ˈthresh-ˌ(h)ōld
\
\
Medical Definition of threshold
: the point at which a physiological or psychological effect begins to be produced (as the degree of stimulation of a nerve which just produces a response or the concentration of sugar in the blood at which sugar just begins to pass the barrier of the kidneys and enter the urine)
below the threshold of consciousness the threshold of pain a high renal clearance threshold
— called also limen
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threshold
noun