Word
outlying
Phoneticsout·ly·ing, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈaʊtˌɫaɪɪŋ/
UK/aʊtlˈaɪɪŋ/
Definition
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.
Examples
“The bus only goes to the outlying villages.”
“The city council is planning to improve public transport links for residents in the outlying suburbs.”
“While the central districts saw immediate economic recovery, the outlying regions remained isolated from the new trade routes for several decades.”
Examples
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.”
Usage
Typically used attributively before a noun; rarely used after a linking verb.
Real-World Examples
“After fanning out through the mainland, it was assumed that they would have colonized outlying islands, like those in the Caribbean.” “Ana María Díaz, a 69-year-old pensioner, said the king should have come earlier to see the makeshift migrant encampments and visit the outlying areas of Ceuta where they concentrate.” “On the outlying islands, there were no satellite phones or dishes waiting to be retrieved from cold storage.” Etymology
From outlie (Etymology 2) + -ing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 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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QR code
englishreference.com/q/outlying