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outlying

American  
[out-lahy-ing] / ˈaʊtˌlaɪ ɪŋ /

adjective

  1. lying lying lie at a distance from the center or the main body; remote; out-of-the-way.

    outlying military posts.

  2. lying lying lie outside the boundary or limit.

outlying British  
/ ˈaʊtˌlaɪɪŋ /

adjective

  1. distant or remote from the main body or centre, as of a town or region

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of outlying

First recorded in 1655–65; out- + lying 2

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.

Most Smart Sampa arrests have occurred in outlying neighborhoods, with many of those detained migrants from poorer regions of Brazil's interior.

From Barron's • Mar. 17, 2026

“The outlying areas are very attractive to retirees. Smaller communities outside the big metros still offer many of the same features but with more affordability,” Smart said.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 4, 2025

In Kyiv, there was no water in parts of the city center and outlying districts on Friday, with restaurants and hotels running a reduced service and many schools in the city sending students home.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 10, 2025

Shetland Islands Council says it is pushing ahead with plans to build tunnels to four outlying isles in the archipelago including Unst, the most northerly place in the UK.

From BBC • Jul. 14, 2025

The sun was just a few hours from setting when they arrived at the base of the hill below the outlying shacks and huts.

From "The Kill Order (Maze Runner, Book Four; Origin)" by James Dashner

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.