ENGLISH
REFERENCE

neighbor

n. · v.
US //ˈneɪbɝ// neigh·bor
  1. 1 person living nearby (n.)
    A1 Beginner American English

    a person who lives in a house or apartment very close to yours.

    a person who lives in a dwelling adjacent to or near that of the speaker or subject.

    Example

    Our new neighbor brought us some cookies to say hello.

    Example

    The neighbors reached an informal agreement regarding the maintenance of the shared fence that separated their backyards.

    Usage

    Commonly used with the preposition 'next-door' to indicate the person in the immediate adjacent house.
  2. 2 nearby country or thing (n.)
    B1 Intermediate American English

    a country or thing that is located next to another.

    a person, country, or thing situated near or next to another.

    Example

    Canada is a northern neighbor of the United States.

    Example

    The two nations have remained peaceful neighbors for over a century, sharing a long and largely undefended border.

    Usage

    Often used metaphorically in political or geographical contexts.
    • borderer
  3. 3 to be located next to (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate American English Formal

    to be located right next to something else.

    to be situated adjacent to or in close proximity to another place or thing.

    Example

    The small park neighbors the local library.

    Example

    The historic district neighbors the industrial zone, creating a stark visual contrast between nineteenth-century brickwork and modern steel warehouses.

    Usage

    This verb is transitive and takes a direct object without a preposition.

Last updated June 19, 2026