# abut

/əˈbət/ (US) · /ɐbˈʌt/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/abut
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.