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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Ojo Sarco, New Mexico This two-bedroom adobe home sits on 5.56 acres abutting Carson National Forest. The Week Staff, theweek, 26 Nov. 2024 Considering the look of the lands abutting Israel, what a disaster for the various terrorists groups if the Israelis were to pull an Atlas Shrugged of sorts and leave. John Tamny, Forbes, 18 Sep. 2024 Photo: Gabriel Zimmer/Catskill Image The home abuts a meadow that belongs to Hawthorne Valley Farm. Kim Velsey, Curbed, 10 July 2024 Soon, the nameless buyer’s plans to build a 68,000-square-foot Nantucket-style mansion — a home nearly the size of the White House — abutting the town’s beloved waterfront Centennial Park, became known, leading to his unmasking. Ben Ryder Howe, Curbed, 7 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for abut 

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 30 Dec. 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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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