neighbor
/ˈneɪ.bə/ IELTSAcademic
noun
A neighbor is a person who lives near you, especially next door or in the same area. It can also mean a nearby country, place, or thing.
- Our neighbors are very friendly.
- I met my new neighbor yesterday.
- India is a neighbor of Nepal.
verb
To neighbor something means to be next to it or close to it. This use is less common.
- Our garden neighbors the school field.
- The park neighbors several houses.
Adinary Nuance
Neighbor is more concrete than nearby words like "resident" or "local." It usually means someone who lives close to you, not just someone from the same town. In formal writing, it can also mean a bordering country or area. Use "neighbor" when physical closeness matters most.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- hàng xóm
- Spanish
- vecino
- Chinese
- 邻居
- Japanese
- 隣人
- Korean
- 이웃
Etymology
Neighbor comes from Old English and was originally written as neahgebur, meaning “near dweller.” It has been used in English since before the 12th century.
Common phrases
next-door neighborfriendly neighborneighboring countrygood neighbor
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is "neighbor" a person or a place word?
- It is usually a person word. It can also describe a nearby country, area, or thing.
- What is the difference between "neighbor" and "neighboring"?
- "Neighbor" is usually a noun. "Neighboring" is an adjective meaning next to or nearby.
- Is "neighbor" formal or informal?
- It is common in everyday English and also acceptable in formal writing.
- How do I use "neighbor" in a sentence?
- You can say, "My neighbor borrowed some sugar," or "Canada is a neighboring country."