ENGLISH
REFERENCE

outlying

adj.
C1 Advanced US //ˈaʊtˌɫaɪɪŋ// UK //aʊtlˈaɪɪŋ// out·ly·ing

adj. describing a place that is far away from the main town or center.

adj. situated far from a main center, settlement, or population hub. Typically used attributively before the noun it modifies.


SIMPLE

The bus only goes to the outlying villages.

CONTEXTUAL

The city council is planning to improve public transport links for residents in the outlying suburbs.

COMPLEX

While the central districts saw immediate economic recovery, the outlying regions remained isolated from the new trade routes for several decades.

Origin

From outlie (Etymology 2) + -ing.

Usage

Typically used attributively before a noun; rarely used after a linking verb.

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