Word
suburb
Phoneticssub·urb, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈsəbɝb/
UK/sˈʌbɜːb/
Definitions
01residential area on city edge
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. an area where people live that is outside the center of a city but still part of it.
n. a residential district situated on the outskirts of a city, typically characterized by lower density than the urban core.
日本語:郊外※
“They decided to move to a quiet suburb so their children could have a garden.”
“The rapid expansion of the northern suburbs has led to increased demand for better public transport links to the financial district.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02urban subdivision
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun British English · Dialect
n. any specific neighborhood or named area within a large city.
n. a named administrative or geographical subdivision of a conurbation, regardless of its distance from the city center.
“He lives in a trendy inner-city suburb just a short walk from the harbor.”
“The inner-city suburbs have seen significant gentrification over the last decade, with old warehouses being converted into luxury apartments.”
Usage
Commonly used in Australia and New Zealand to refer to any urban address location.
Teaching tip
In American English, a suburb is strictly outside the city limits; in Australian English, even a central neighborhood is called a suburb.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “suburb” in context.
Verb
01. commute from the suburb
“He commutes from the suburbs every morning by train.”
verb + prep + noun
02. live in a suburb
“Many people prefer to live in a quiet suburb and commute to the city center for work.”
verb + prep + adj + noun
Adjective
03. affluent suburb
“The city's most affluent suburb is known for its expensive boutiques and private schools.”
adj + noun
04. leafy suburb
“They decided to move to a leafy suburb where their children could play in the garden.”
adj + noun
05. sprawling suburb
“The sprawling suburbs now extend for miles beyond the original city limits.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. suburb resident
“Local suburb residents have complained about the lack of public transport.”
noun + noun
Preposition
07. in the suburbs
“Life in the suburbs is generally much slower than in the heart of the city.”
prep + noun
08. on the edge of the suburb
“A new shopping mall is being built on the edge of the suburb.”
prep + noun + prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“As the new property manager of Parkwood Apartments, a squat complex of 175 low-rise apartments and townhouses in the San Diego suburbs, she says she excelled.” “In July 2026, more than 200 community members gathered at Mandoon Bilya (Helena River) in Perth's eastern suburbs.” “A ten-year-old First Nations girl, reported missing from Perth’s outer northern suburbs on Saturday, has been found.” Etymology
From Old French suburbe, subburbe, from Latin suburbium (from sub- (“under-”) + urbs (“city”)). Displaced native Old English underburg (literally “underborough”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/suburb
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0