outlying

American  

[aut-lahy-ing] / ˈaʊtˌlaɪ ɪŋ /

adjective

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

   outlying military posts.

2. lying outside the boundary or limit.

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outlying British  

/ ˈaʊtˌlaɪɪŋ /

adjective

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

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Etymology

Origin of outlying

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

outlying

After the meeting, Kingsnorth said, “We’re ready to pause if we need to because of the outlying state of the world.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 20, 2026

He is one of the few people outside the military who travel to the most dangerous areas, delivering bread to outlying villages that he makes in his own bakery, which produces 17,000 loaves per week.

From BBC ● Feb. 24, 2026

Although recovery efforts were under way in parts of the city, some outlying areas remained at risk as a nearby river overflowed, forcing another 500 people to evacuate on Thursday morning.

From Barron's ● Jan. 8, 2026

China’s coast guard said it was carrying out patrols in the waters around Taiwan and some of its outlying islands.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 29, 2025

In some outlying areas, elements of the package arrived at different times: for instance, sheep preceded cereals in southwestern Europe.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

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Related Words

• backwoods
• far-flung
• faraway
• outer

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