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.
Infinite Outdoors will continue to reach out to landowners abutting public lands to gain access. Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 13 Oct. 2025 The show was born at a Mipcom dinner a couple of years back where Jonathan Shrank, TheSoul Publishing VP, Streaming & Content Partnerships, and Julia Rowlands, SVP Co-Productions, Sales and Acquisitions, Banijay Kids & Family, were talking abut their pets. John Hopewell, Variety, 9 Oct. 2025 Surveillance video from at least one hotel abutting the alleyway showed Sanchez grabbing Tole and throwing him up against a wall. Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025 Anyone can discover the art of glassblowing at Orbix Hot Glass, a world-class studio set on 26 acres of rolling hills abutting Little River Canyon National Preserve. Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 4 Oct. 2025 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

Cite this Entry

“Abut.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abut. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.

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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