abut

American  

[uh-buht] / əˈbʌt /

verb (used without object)

abutted, abutting

1. to be adjacent; touch or join at the edge or border (often followed by on, upon, oragainst ).

   This piece of land abuts on a street.

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verb (used with object)

abutted, abutting

1. to be adjacent to; border on; end at.

2. to support by an abutment.

abut British  

/ əˈbʌt /

verb

1. to adjoin, touch, or border on (something) at one end

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Other Word Forms

• unabutting adjective

Etymology

Origin of abut

1425–75; late Middle English < Middle French, Old French abuter touch at one end, verbal derivative of a but to (the) end; a- ⁵, butt ²

Example Sentences

The land abutting the Pinto Mountains Wilderness is also home to badgers, bighorn sheep and Mojave fringe-toed lizards.

From Los Angeles Times

The band is pitched right at a difficult juncture at which their artistic ambitions abut real, life-altering attention.

From Los Angeles Times

The seven-story addition directly abuts the original building without seeming to touch it.

From The Wall Street Journal

An unknown projectile hit a cargo ship in the strategic Strait of Hormuz abutting Iran, causing a fire and forcing the crew to evacuate, a maritime security agency said.

From Barron's

Iran also abuts the Strait of Hormuz, a maritime chokepoint that controls access to the Persian Gulf.

From Barron's

Related Words

• adjoin
• border on