# neighbor

/ˈneɪbɝ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/neighbor
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. person living nearby

noun · CEFR A1 · American English

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

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

- Our new neighbor brought us some cookies to say hello.
- 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. nearby country or thing

noun · CEFR B1 · American English

a country or thing that is located next to another.

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

- Canada is a northern neighbor of the United States.
- 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.

### 3. to be located next to

verb · CEFR B2 · American English · Formal

to be located right next to something else.

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

- The small park neighbors the local library.
- 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.

## Examples

- My neighbor is very friendly and often helps me with my garden.
- The noise from the upstairs neighbor made it difficult for the family to sleep through the night.
- While the two countries have been peaceful neighbors for decades, recent disputes over water rights have strained their diplomatic relationship and increased border security.

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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.