Abut means to touch or lean against something, usually at the edge. It is often used to describe two things that are next to each other and meet at a boundary.
People use abut mostly in formal or written English, especially when talking about land, buildings, roads, or walls. For example, one property may abut another property, or a road may abut a park. In daily speech, people usually say “next to” or “bordering” instead.
Meaning & Usage
Abut means to be directly beside something and touch it at the edge. It can also mean to rest against something. The word is common in legal, architectural, and geographic descriptions.
Examples
The garden abuts the school playground.
Our house abuts a small forest.
The new road abuts the river on one side.
Is “abut” a common word?
It is not very common in everyday conversation, but you may see it in formal writing, maps, property documents, and news reports.
What is a simple synonym for “abut”?
Simple synonyms include border, touch, and be next to.
Can “abut” be used for buildings?
Yes. It is often used for buildings, walls, roads, and land that are directly next to each other.
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