Threshold
noun /ˈθrɛʃhoʊld/ — The exact point of crossing into something new.
Definition
The strip of wood or stone forming the bottom of a doorway; the point of beginning; the level at which something starts to happen or change.
Beyond the definition
Threshold carries more weight than 'beginning'. Standing on a threshold means being exactly between two states — the old world behind you, the new one not yet entered. It's the moment of maximum significance and maximum uncertainty.
Origin & history
Old English therscold — possibly from threscan 'to thresh' (where grain was threshed) or from a Germanic root meaning 'trample'. The place of transition between outside and inside.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
She stood at the threshold of her new apartment, suitcase in hand, not yet ready to step in.
They were on the threshold of a discovery that would change their field entirely.
Every major decision is a threshold: you can hesitate before it, but you can't be on both sides.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Threshold” when the meaning fits your context: The strip of wood or stone forming the bottom of a doorway; the point of beginning; the level at which something starts to happen or change.
Synonyms
boundary, edge, brink, verge, limit, entrance
Antonyms
interior, middle, conclusion
Related words
Word in the Wild
Illustrative story: an imagined scene, not a documented event or interview.
The house she grew up in was sold after her mother died. Before the new owners took possession, she was allowed one last visit.
She walked through every room. She stood in the kitchen for a long time. She went to the front door last and stood in it — not inside, not outside, one foot on the doorstep.
She stood there for a while longer than she'd planned. Someone asked her later what she was thinking. "I was trying to decide which direction to face," she said. She didn't elaborate. The person who'd asked understood.
Questions about this word
What does "Threshold" mean?
Threshold is noun meaning: The exact point of crossing into something new.. The strip of wood or stone forming the bottom of a doorway; the point of beginning; the level at which something starts to happen or change.
Where does the word "Threshold" come from?
Old English therscold — possibly from threscan 'to thresh' (where grain was threshed) or from a Germanic root meaning 'trample'. The place of transition between outside and inside.