border
noun
the part or edge of a surface or area that forms its outer boundary.
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border
American
[bawr-der]
/ ˈbɔr dər /
noun
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borders
plural
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the part or edge of a surface or area that forms its outer boundary.
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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.
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the district or region that lies along the boundary line of another.
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the frontier of civilization.
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the border,
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the border between the United States and Mexico, especially along the Rio Grande.
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(in the British Isles) the region along the boundary between England and Scotland.
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an ornamental strip or design around the edge of a printed page, a drawing, etc.
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an ornamental design or piece of ornamental trimming around the edge of a fabric, rug, garment, article of furniture, etc.
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Horticulture.
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a long, narrow bed planted with flowers, shrubs, or trees.
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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.
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the plants growing in such a strip.
a border of tulips along the path.
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Theater.
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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.
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verb (used with object)
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borders,
present (3rd person singular)
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bordered,
past participle, past
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bordering
present participle
-
to make a border around; adorn with a border.
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to form a border or boundary to.
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to lie on the border of; adjoin.
verb (used without object)
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borders,
present (3rd person singular)
-
bordered,
past participle, past
-
bordering
present participle
-
to form or constitute a border; be next to.
California borders on the Pacific Ocean.
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to approach closely in character; verge.
The situation borders on tragedy.
border
1
British
/ ˈbɔːdə /
noun
-
a band or margin around or along the edge of something
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the dividing line or frontier between political or geographic regions
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a region straddling such a boundary
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( as modifier )
border country
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-
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a design or ornamental strip around the edge or rim of something, such as a printed page or dinner plate
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( as modifier )
a border illustration
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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
verb
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(tr) to decorate or provide with a border
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to be adjacent (to); lie along the boundary (of)
his land borders on mine
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to be nearly the same (as); verge (on)
his stupidity borders on madness
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Border
2
British
/ ˈbɔːdə /
noun
-
(often plural) the area straddling the border between England and Scotland
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the area straddling the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland
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the region in S South Africa around East London
Border
3
British
/ ˈbɔːdə /
noun
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
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
bordersimple
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borderssimple
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have borderedperfect
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has borderedperfect
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am borderingprogressive
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are borderingprogressive
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is borderingprogressive
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have been borderingperfect progressive
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has been borderingperfect progressive
Past
-
borderedsimple
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had borderedperfect
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was borderingprogressive
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were borderingprogressive
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had been borderingperfect progressive
Future
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."
Vocabulary lists containing border
"The Civil Rights Movement"
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Commonly Confused Words, List 1
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The United States
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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.
See Examples For:
The odds are not lost on Nixon, who campaigned last week in Monticello, on the Georgia-Florida border, about 45 minutes outside of Tallahassee.
From Salon ● Oct. 21, 2026
Rain is anticipated for Southern California on Wednesday into Thursday as the National Weather Service cautioned about potential beach hazards and thunderstorms from Oxnard to the Mexico border.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2026
The MDL is the border within the DMZ that separates the two countries.
From Barron's ● Oct. 20, 2026
When the first case was announced, the authorities urged people not to panic, assuring them of heightened surveillance at airports and border crossings.
From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2026
Fayetteville is Tornado Alley adjacent, in the Arkansas hills just east of the Oklahoma border, and since her parents are Okies by birth, they take the frequent watches and warnings seriously.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
He was stopped by Border Force officials in Manchester and was told to return to the airport to catch the next direct flight home.
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
In December, Cincinnati Customs and Border Protection officers identified a master carton scheme from a Chinese shipper.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026
Customs and Border Protection operations in Alhambra in February 2025.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026
Anna Turley, Minister for Border Security and Asylum, called Abdela a "reckless criminal" who had been "rightly jailed".
From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026
Four hundred Customs and Border Protection agents and officers deputized for local law enforcement.
From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers
Sloan’s stylistic range reflects a music industry in which the borders between genres have never been more porous.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 19, 2026
The area borders the vast Rose Atoll marine sanctuary, where endangered species of hawksbill turtle thrive on vibrant reefs.
From Barron's ● Oct. 19, 2026
The three main Allied victors of World War II met at Yalta in 1945 to carve new European borders after the Nazis’ defeat.
From Slate ● Oct. 19, 2026
Countries accustomed to receiving great numbers of aspiring young people from beyond their borders may have to learn to do with fewer.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 18, 2026
Jones was a valuable and mysterious secret agent operating along the watery borders between Union and Confederate territory.
From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson
Our campsite bordered the Fefine, a large river that flows even in the dry season.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 28, 2026
The proposal would create new traffic patterns for ships transiting the strait, which is bordered by Iran on the northern shore and Oman on the southern.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 2, 2026
But Emerald Bay is gate-guarded, accessible only to residents, and its half-mile stretch of golden sand is bordered by the cliffs of two jutting points, geographically cutting off public access via other beaches.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 24, 2026
The cars are connected to charging points by the garages for the flats, which are in traditional red buildings bordered by birch trees and a large golf course.
From Barron's ● Jun. 12, 2026
Its windows are bordered by deep red tile and gold detailing.
From "Free Lunch" by Rex Ogle
At the movies, the PTSD-suffering veteran is a familiar figure, bordering on cliché.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026
MCALLEN, Texas — Vanessa Ovalle has a “frontline view” of Texas schools as a single mom and a speech pathologist at a local school in McAllen, a city in the Rio Grande Valley bordering Mexico.
From Salon ● Oct. 1, 2026
Communities across all states bordering Wyoming face darkness, breathing difficulties and roofs collapsing under accumulated ash.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 22, 2026
Boundaries are extremely tricky to maintain with people who are insistent and/or bordering on pushy.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 21, 2026
He gave the position his all and became known among his teammates for toughness bordering on recklessness in his efforts to keep the ball out of the net.
From "Outcasts United: An American Town, a Refugee Team, and One Woman's Quest to Make a Difference" by Warren St. John
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