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.
When he appeared on another camera, officers in a neighboring county arrested him.
From Barron's ● Aug. 9, 2026
At the boundaries of solar granules, neighboring layers of plasma also appear to travel at different speeds.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 8, 2026
“Spain regards Algeria not only as a neighboring country, but also as a strategic partner and, above all, as a friend,” Sánchez said during the trip.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026
In essence, the neighboring sale upped the ante as far as Behar’s listing was concerned—and also encouraged her agents to start thinking about other ways they could prove the home’s potential to prospective buyers.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 30, 2026
He noisily, laboriously drags an entire bench from a neighboring table over to the children's.
From "The Inquisitor's Tale" by Adam Gidwitz
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.
