precariously

[US]/pri'kɛəriəsli/
[UK]/prɪˈk ɛrɪəslɪ/
Frequency: Very High

Translation

adv. in an unsafe or dangerous manner, in a precarious or unstable way, relying on chance or being unreliable.

Phrases & Collocations

balancing precariously

sitting precariously

hanging precariously

perched precariously

Example Sentences

She leaned precariously out of the window.

The hotel was perched precariously on a steep hillside.

houses clinging precariously to sheer cliffs

The phone was perched precariously on the window ledge.

The hiker balanced precariously on the edge of the cliff.

The old building stood precariously after the earthquake.

She precariously balanced a stack of plates in her hands.

The child climbed precariously up the tree.

The vase was placed precariously on the edge of the table.

The boat rocked precariously in the stormy sea.

He precariously balanced on one foot while juggling balls.

The ladder was positioned precariously against the wall.

The fragile sculpture sat precariously on the narrow shelf.

The cat perched precariously on the top of the fence.

Real-world Examples

Raven on a wire. A gloomy portent, precariously perched.

Source: BoJack Horseman Season 3

A bracelet was precariously placed on the rim of a well.

Source: New Concept English: Vocabulary On-the-Go, Book Three.

Ember finally made it into the chair, but she wobbled precariously.

Source: Crazy Element City

Hermione was dozing in it, her drink tipping precariously in her hand.

Source: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

The others were fearless, leaping over the rocks, perching precariously on the edges.

Source: Twilight: Eclipse

The South China tiger is precariously close to disappearing, with only 20 to 30 still alive.

Source: English audio magazine

However friendly the universe may be, it has left the conditions of human existence precariously balanced.

Source: Modern University English Intensive Reading (2nd Edition) Volume 2

Three hundred yards away he stopped where a huge dead tree leaned precariously on a smaller, living one.

Source: Modern University English Intensive Reading (2nd Edition) Volume 3

" RUN! " Harry yelled, and the shelves swayed precariously and more glass spheres began to fall from above.

Source: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

At least two others hang precariously from the bridge.

Source: Listening comprehension of the English Major Level 8 exam past papers.

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