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• border
  border

  noun

  the part or edge of a surface or area that forms its outer boundary.
• Border
  Border

  noun

  (often plural) the area straddling the border between England and Scotland

border

American  

[bawr-der] / ˈbɔr dər /

noun

• borders
  plural

1. the part or edge of a surface or area that forms its outer boundary.

   Synonyms:

   verge, periphery, rim

2. the line, limit, or delimiting geographic feature that separates one country, state, province, etc., from another: The largest lake within the borders of Canada is Great Bear Lake.

   You cannot cross the border without a visa.

   The largest lake within the borders of Canada is Great Bear Lake.

3. the district or region that lies along the boundary line of another.

4. the frontier of civilization.

5. the border,

   1. the border between the United States and Mexico, especially along the Rio Grande.

   2. (in the British Isles) the region along the boundary between England and Scotland.

6. brink; verge.

7. an ornamental strip or design around the edge of a printed page, a drawing, etc.

8. an ornamental design or piece of ornamental trimming around the edge of a fabric, rug, garment, article of furniture, etc.

9. Horticulture.

   1. a long, narrow bed planted with flowers, shrubs, or trees.

   2. a strip of ground in which plants are grown, enclosing an area in a garden or running along the edge of a walk or driveway.

   3. the plants growing in such a strip.

      a border of tulips along the path.

10. Theater.

    1. a narrow curtain or strip of painted canvas hung above the stage, masking the flies and lighting units, and forming the top of the stage set.

    2. border light.

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verb (used with object)

• borders,
  present (3rd person singular)
• bordered,
  past participle,  past
• bordering
  present participle

1. to make a border around; adorn with a border.

2. to form a border or boundary to.

3. to lie on the border of; adjoin.

verb (used without object)

• borders,
  present (3rd person singular)
• bordered,
  past participle,  past
• bordering
  present participle

1. to form or constitute a border; be next to.

   California borders on the Pacific Ocean.

2. to approach closely in character; verge.

   The situation borders on tragedy.

border ¹ British  

/ ˈbɔːdə /

noun

1. a band or margin around or along the edge of something

2. the dividing line or frontier between political or geographic regions

3. 1. a region straddling such a boundary

   2. ( as modifier )

      border country

4. 1. a design or ornamental strip around the edge or rim of something, such as a printed page or dinner plate

   2. ( as modifier )

      a border illustration

5. a long narrow strip of ground planted with flowers, shrubs, trees, etc, that skirts a path or wall or surrounds a lawn or other area

   a herbaceous border

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verb

1. (tr) to decorate or provide with a border

2. 1. to be adjacent (to); lie along the boundary (of)

      his land borders on mine

   2. to be nearly the same (as); verge (on)

      his stupidity borders on madness

Border ² British  

/ ˈbɔːdə /

noun

1. (often plural) the area straddling the border between England and Scotland

2. the area straddling the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland

3. the region in S South Africa around East London

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Border ³ British  

/ ˈbɔːdə /

noun

1. Allan ( Robert ). born 1955, Australian cricketer; played in 156 test matches (1978–1994), 93 as captain; first Australian batsman to score 10,000 test runs

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Usage

What does border mean? A border is the outer edge of a surface or image that marks its boundary in reference to others, such as a border you draw around a picture. A border is also a line that acts as a boundary between two or more geographic areas, whether it’s small areas, like between neighbors on the same street, or large areas, like between countries. To border often means to create a border, as on a picture. To border can also mean to form a border or to be next to one, as in Maine borders New Hampshire to the west and south and Canada to the north and east. Example: The border around the image is quite interesting, but I don’t think it fits the piece.

Synonym Usage

See edge. See boundary.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• bordered
  adjective
• borderless
  adjective
• transborder
  adjective
• unbordered
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• borders
  plural

Participles

• bordering
  present
• bordered
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• border
  simple
• borders
  simple
• have bordered
  perfect
• has bordered
  perfect
• am bordering
  progressive
• are bordering
  progressive
• is bordering
  progressive
• have been bordering
  perfect progressive
• has been bordering
  perfect progressive

Past

• bordered
  simple
• had bordered
  perfect
• was bordering
  progressive
• were bordering
  progressive
• had been bordering
  perfect progressive

Future

• will border
  simple
• will have bordered
  perfect
• will be bordering
  progressive
• will have been bordering
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of border

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English bordure, from Anglo-French, Old French, equivalent to bord(er) “to border” (derivative of bord “ship's side, edge,” from Germanic; see board) + -ure noun suffix; see -ure

Explanation

When you cross a border from one country into another, you'll need to show your identification papers and maybe a visa to the border patrol officials. A border separates one thing from another, most famously countries. Sometimes neighboring countries have border disputes, if they don't think the lines were drawn fairly or if they don't get along. Borders can also be less official. You might want to plant a border of cabbages along your front walk, or you could sew a border of sequins along the edge of your collar. But you'd have to go easy on the sequins, as too many would "border on the garish."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

border Border borders bordered bordering

That was in addition to the 554 still missing on the Chinese side of the border, the state news agency Xinhua reported on Saturday.

From Barron's ● Aug. 29, 2026

The Observer leads with news that at least 675 are dead and 3,000 remain missing "along a 60-mile ribbon of mud" on the border.

From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026

The United States cannot require Canada to adopt the new name for the lake, which forms part of the international border.

From Salon ● Aug. 29, 2026

It’s a rowdy U.S.-Canada border war—in bass fishing.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 29, 2026

“Good. Good. I like that,” I said, putting the car into gear and turning onto El Indio Highway, toward the border.

From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall

Border Patrol agents are divided by geographic regions called sectors.

From Salon ● Aug. 24, 2026

Customs and Border Protection commissioner Rodney Scott said Monday, while he assesses the southwest Texas site.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026

The UK government said more than 260,000 counterfeit toys were intercepted by UK Border Force in the last year alone.

From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026

Border agents already have the authority to question a foreigner’s reason for applying for a visa or entering the country.

From Slate ● Aug. 11, 2026

We were hauled into the Border Patrol van and driven to San Luis Obispo, the immigration headquarters.

From "Breaking Through" by Francisco Jiménez

Lake Ontario, the smallest of the Great Lakes, borders both the Canadian province and the US state of New York.

From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026

It borders the Canadian province of Ontario and the US state of New York.

From Barron's ● Aug. 27, 2026

“What makes it so important is not just its scale, but that it demonstrates how governments can align policy, infrastructure planning and industry engagement across borders to accelerate the transition,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026

The volume of goods moving across national borders rose by 2% from May, when flows increased by 0.5%, according to figures released Tuesday by the Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026

How to start with the edges, the borders, and work in, using my imagination.

From "Sunny" by Jason Reynolds

Our campsite bordered the Fefine, a large river that flows even in the dry season.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 28, 2026

Many German commanders, Mr. Hargreaves reveals, felt Rommel favored “speed first, not safety,” and Rommel’s impulsiveness “frequently bordered on recklessness.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 23, 2026

Models walked down a wide runway set up in Manhattan, bordered by 7th Avenue and Broadway, while its famous billboards broadcast the images.

From Barron's ● May 17, 2026

District 5 is roughly bordered by the 405 Freeway on the west, Venice Boulevard on the south, Mulholland Drive on the north and stretching as far east as Western Avenue.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 1, 2026

The creek was bordered with marshes, but if you went a few yards back the land got higher, dryer.

From "Homecoming" by Cynthia Voigt

It’s going to raise costs particularly in states that are either bordering or in close proximity to Canada and rely on trade with it.

From Slate ● Aug. 29, 2026

He gained a reputation for courage bordering on recklessness, ever-present in frontline trenches and personally leading expeditions to clear mines.

From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026

But what has really put Sequoia on the marmot-shenanigans map is their all-out assault on the parking lots bordering trailheads in the Mineral King Valley—one of the wildest parts of the park.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026

The 12,700-square-foot mansion in Fair Oaks — an unincorporated community in Sacramento County bordering the American River — has been listed for $7.5 million.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 24, 2026

“You’re not smooth—you’re bordering on stupid!” their mother erupted angrily.

From "Stella by Starlight" by Sharon M. Draper

Related Words

• abut
• adjoin
• encircle
• flank
• neighbor
• surround