Abut means to touch or lean directly against something, especially along an edge. It is often used in formal or technical English, but the basic idea is simple: two things are close together and meet at a boundary.
People use abut when talking about land, buildings, roads, or other things that connect or sit right next to each other. For example, one property may abut a park, or a road may abut a river. In everyday speech, people often use simpler words like border on, touch, or be next to.
Meaning & Usage
Abut is a verb. It means to be directly against something or to share a boundary with it. It is common in legal, architectural, and geographic writing.
Examples
The garden abuts the school playground.
Our backyard abuts a forest.
The new building abuts the old stone wall.
Is “abut” used in everyday English?
Not very often. People usually say “next to,” “beside,” or “bordering.” Abut is more common in formal writing.
Can “abut” mean “touch”?
Yes. It usually means something touches another thing directly, often along a side or edge.
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