abutted; abutting

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
2
a
: to terminate at a point of contact
b
: to lean for support

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 Now he’s holed up in his family home, which abuts the dismal local zoo, where his father is strung out and intent on drinking himself to death. Jessica Kiang, Variety, 21 May 2024 To the extent that two establishments are abutting these establishments may share an off-duty police officer. Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 4 May 2024 The original 1967 covenant required the property remain a golf course for 99 years until 2067 unless 75 percent of abutting or ring homeowners agreed to lift it. Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 4 May 2024 The immediate area does not have much development, and on the south side of San Juan at that intersection, there are no homes or businesses: Essentially, the road abuts the freeway. Ariane Lange, Sacramento Bee, 15 Apr. 2024 Gourmet Alley is currently a narrow street in downtown Gilroy that abuts a strip of restaurants, mostly serving to house dumpsters and access parking. Luis Melecio-Zambrano, The Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2024 Generating particular excitement among planners is the prospect of opening up Eel River Canyon, abutting the nearly 200-mile Eel River, which runs along the northwestern coast not far from the Pacific Ocean. Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2024 On the main floor, an open kitchen abutted a double-height dining room. Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024 This is Harbor Country—a cluster of eight small towns abutting Lake Michigan, all within a 15-minute driving radius. Alex Beggs, Bon Appétit, 21 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'abut.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

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 3

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of abut was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near abut

Cite this Entry

“Abut.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abut. Accessed 28 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

abut

verb
abutted; abutting
: to touch along a border or with a part that sticks out
abutter noun

Legal Definition

abut

verb
abutted; abutting

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

More from Merriam-Webster on abut

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