as in isolated
far away from the center of a place
The family lives in an outlying area of the city. the country's outlying islands
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of outlying
Many of the markets that made the list are in metro areas rather than outlying parts of the city.
—
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 Jan. 2026
Turley told him about the town, in the foothills of the Andes, with its mission church and several dozen outlying villages, reached by dirt roads.
—Paul Elie, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
Even though their outlying positions can present challenges like road closures, weather disruptions, and maintaining a reliable cold chain for perishable foods, these lodges don’t consider their setting a disadvantage.
—Jillian Dara, Robb Report, 28 Nov. 2025
It will also be used for escorting supplies to outlying islands and maintaining the security of maritime traffic lines, thereby increasing the flexibility of force deployment.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 17 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for outlying
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 Jan. 2026
Turley told him about the town, in the foothills of the Andes, with its mission church and several dozen outlying villages, reached by dirt roads.
—Paul Elie, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
Even though their outlying positions can present challenges like road closures, weather disruptions, and maintaining a reliable cold chain for perishable foods, these lodges don’t consider their setting a disadvantage.
—Jillian Dara, Robb Report, 28 Nov. 2025
It will also be used for escorting supplies to outlying islands and maintaining the security of maritime traffic lines, thereby increasing the flexibility of force deployment.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 17 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for outlying
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outlying
Adjective
-
Rediscovery of ancient creatures Back in the 1970s, the team discovered the fossils eroding from a rock formation on the Noonkanbah cattle station, located east of the isolated township of Derby in the Kimberley.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Feb. 2026
-
The Ocoee Massacre was not an isolated incident.—
Debbie Deland,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The 84-year-old disappeared from her secluded Tucson home after she was last seen on January 31.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
24 Feb. 2026
-
The neighborhood/area The resort is in an incredibly secluded pocket of Rancho Mirage, a city in the Greater Palm Springs area, about 20 minutes from the Palm Springs airport.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Outlying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outlying. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
