1 abut | Definition of abut

abut

verb
\ ə-ˈbət How to pronounce abut (audio) \
abutted; abutting

Definition of abut

transitive verb

1 : to border on : to touch along an edge Their property abuts our land.
2 : to cause to touch or lean for support abut a timber against a post

intransitive verb

1 : to touch along a border or with a projecting part a parcel of land that abuts on the road
2a : to terminate at a point of contact
b : to lean for support

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Examples of abut in a Sentence

Their property and our property abut. our land abuts a nature preserve, so we see a lot of wildlife

Recent Examples on the Web

The land abutted a site called Fountain Square, which had been vacant for 14 years. Jason Grotto, ProPublica, "From Truck Stops to Elections, a River of Gambling Money Is Flooding Waukegan," 8 Aug. 2019 That acquisition abuts the pre-existing 5,020-acre Heil Valley Ranch open space, acquired by the county between 1994 and 1996. Charlie Brennan, The Denver Post, "Boulder County’s Altona Schoolhouse, 140 years old, nearly back in session," 7 Aug. 2019 In Saint-Martin-d’Hères, France, Rue Martin Luther King abuts Rue Rosa Lee Parks, in honor of the woman who sparked the Montgomery, Alabama, bus boycott in 1955. Wendi C. Thomas, National Geographic, "Where the Streets Have MLK's Name," 12 June 2019 Crew quarters abutted our offices in the huge assembly and test building on Merritt Island. Stephen Hudak, orlandosentinel.com, "A long commute: Apollo 11 astronauts lived in Houston, trained in Central Florida," 10 May 2019 Some cities charge 100 percent of the cost to abutting properties. Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, "St. Paul City Council agrees to changes to lower street repaving bills," 19 June 2019 Suzanne Mitus lives on Altadena’s Chaney Trail in a home whose yard abuts the vastness of Angeles National Forest. Sara Cardine, La Cañada Valley Sun, "Some worry Edison pole replacements could displace woodpeckers that feed, nest inside," 17 July 2019 The Tamaulipas official said the father and daughter set off from a small park that abuts the river. Peter Orsi, The Denver Post, "A grim father, daughter border drowning underlines peril facing many migrants," 26 June 2019 The Tamaulipas official said the father and daughter set off from a small park that abuts the river. Washington Post, "Father-daughter border drowning highlights migrants’ perils," 26 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'abut.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of abut

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

History and Etymology for abut

Middle English abutten, borrowed from Anglo-French abuter, from a-, verb-forming prefix (going back to Latin ad- ad-) + bout, but "push, thrust, blow, end, extremity," noun derivative from bouter, boter "to push, thrust, strike" — more at butt entry 1

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More Definitions for abut

abut

verb
\ ə-ˈbət How to pronounce abut (audio) \
abutted; abutting

Kids Definition of abut

: to touch along an edge Their yard abuts a park.

abut

verb
\ ə-ˈbət How to pronounce abut (audio) \
abutted; abutting

Legal Definition of abut

intransitive verb

: to touch along a border or with a projecting part used with on, upon, or against the land abuts on the road

transitive verb

: to border on : reach or touch with an end two lots that abut each other

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More from Merriam-Webster on abut

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with abut

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for abut

Spanish Central: Translation of abut

Nglish: Translation of abut for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of abut for Arabic Speakers