Word
abut
US/əˈbət/
UK/ɐbˈʌt/
Definition
v. to touch or be next to something else, like two buildings or pieces of land. You use this when two things are right next to each other but do not overlap.
v. to touch or be adjacent to something else; to border on a specific area or object. Often used in legal or geographical contexts to describe the physical proximity of properties.
Examples
“The two buildings abut each other along the street.”
“The new park abuts the city's main highway, creating a green buffer for the residents.”
“The legal dispute centered on whether the two parcels of land abutted each other or if a small strip of private property separated them.”
Examples
simple
“The two buildings abut each other along the street.”
contextual
“The new park abuts the city's main highway, creating a green buffer for the residents.”
complex
“The legal dispute centered on whether the two parcels of land abutted each other or if a small strip of private property separated them.”
Etymology
From Middle English abutten, from Medieval Latin abuttare and Old French abuter, aboter, abouter (“to touch at one end, to come to an end, aim, reach”), from Old French but (“end, aim, purpose”); akin to Old Norse butr (“piece of wood”). Equivalent to a- (“to”) + butt (“boundary mark”).
From Middle English abutten, from Old French aboter (“to touch at one end, border on”), abouter (“to join end to end”), abuter (“to buttress, to put an end to”), from a- (“towards”) + bout (“end”), boter, bouter (“to strike”), buter (“to strike, finish”). Equivalent to a- (“towards, change to”) + butt (“push”)
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/abut