neighboring
Americanadjective
Etymology
Origin of neighboring
Explanation
An object that's neighboring is right next to something else. Neighboring countries share a common border, and neighboring cars are parked side-by-side. In a restaurant, if someone at the neighboring table starts telling terrible jokes, you'll have to listen, since they're adjacent to your table. And if you live in Maine, New Hampshire is the only neighboring state. The adjective neighboring comes from the verb form of neighbor, which is rooted in the Old English words neah, "near," and gebur, "dweller."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Three years ago, he arrived in Colombia by bus, fleeing the crisis in neighboring Venezuela.
From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026
Kardashian has reportedly been growing her compound since then, most recently purchasing a neighboring property last fall.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026
Israeli and Lebanese officials have been holding direct, ambassador-level meetings since April, a historic diplomatic breakthrough for neighboring countries that have technically been at war since Israel’s founding in 1948.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
Their results show that exposure to light can make an atom more responsive to the movement of neighboring atoms.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 30, 2026
Gazing out the window at the narrow strip of sky above the neighboring apartment building, I wonder if Viji Aunty's school is as comfortable as Patti and Thatha's house.
From "Born Behind Bars" by Padma Venkatraman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
