neighbor

1 of 3

noun

neigh·​bor ˈnā-bər 

1

: one living or located near another

had lunch with her next-door neighbor

2

: fellow man

thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself

—Matthew 19:19 (King James Version)

neighbor

2 of 3

adjective

: being immediately adjoining or relatively near

neighbor

3 of 3

verb

neighbored; neighboring ˈnā-b(ə-)riŋ 

transitive verb

: to adjoin immediately or lie relatively near to

intransitive verb

1

: to live or be located as a neighbor

2

: to associate in a neighborly way

Synonyms

Verb

• join
• touch
• adjoin
• flank
• surround

Examples of neighbor in a Sentence

Noun

We invited our friends and neighbors.

Canada is a neighbor of the U.S.

Venus is Earth's nearest neighbor.

Verb

the baseball field neighbors a parking lot

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Key Japanese neighbors, especially China, will be watching closely to see who comes out on top. —Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025

The Curated Locally program, a wall of products made by community members, showcases Café Noir’s support of its neighbors. —Lyndsay C. Green, Freep.com, 3 Oct. 2025

Adjective

The mistake tortures them, which prompts the couple to try and solve the mystery by producing a fake play in an attempt to get their ex-neighbor Mary (Chloe Cherry) to audition. —Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 3 Oct. 2025

Some non-neighbor friends are appalled. —Amy Dickinson, Chicago Tribune, 17 Nov. 2022

Verb

The coffee shop has become a go-to for far east side Detroiters who have long traveled to neighboring Grosse Pointe for a nearby caffeine fix. —Lyndsay C. Green, Freep.com, 3 Oct. 2025

The recent discovery of what was initially thought to be an explosive device on a body brought to Indianapolis for examination could indicate more trouble at a neighboring county's coroner office already wracked by recent upheaval. —Noe Padilla, IndyStar, 3 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun, Adjective, and Verb

Middle English, from Old English nēahgebūr (akin to Old High German nāhgibūr); akin to Old English nēah near and Old English gebūr dweller — more at nigh, boor

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1530, in the meaning defined above

Verb

circa 1586, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing neighbor

• beggar-thy-neighbor
• good-neighbor
• next-door neighbor

Rhymes for neighbor

• labor
• neighbour
• saber
• sabre
• tabor
• belabor
• nonlabor

Kids Definition

neighbor

1 of 2 noun

neigh·​bor ˈnā-bər 

1

: a person who lives near another

2

: a person or thing located near another

Canada is a neighbor of the U.S.

3

: a fellow human being

neighbor

2 of 2 verb

neighbored; neighboring

-b(ə-)riŋ

: to be next to or near to

neighboring towns

Etymology

Noun

Old English nēahgebūr "neighbor," from nēah "near" + gebūr "dweller" — related to near, nigh

Word Origin

The words near and nigh are both related to—and have the same meaning as—the Old English word nēah. Another word which can be traced, at least in part, to nēah is neighbor. The combination of nēah, meaning "near," and gebūr, meaning "dweller," produced the Old English word nēahgebūr. This word was used for "a person living near another." The pronunciation and spelling of nēahgebūr has changed over the centuries to give us neighbor, but the word's basic meaning has remained the same.