1 C1 formal
Of a piece of land or a building: to share a boundary with something; to be directly next to it.
"The garden abutted on the old stone wall that separated the two properties."
inseparable
abut on
C1 formal inseparable transitive
To be next to or touching something at a boundary, used of land or buildings.
In plain English
When one piece of land or a building touches or is right next to another.
What does "abut on" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To butt up against something — the idea of two things pressing against each other at a joint.
Actually means
When one piece of land or a building touches or is right next to another.
Usage tip
Used mainly in legal, architectural, or geographical descriptions. Not common in everyday conversation. Also seen as 'abut onto' or 'abut against'.
Words that pair with "abut on"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
property land building road wall fence
How to conjugate "abut on"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
abut on
I/you/we/they
3rd person
abuts on
he/she/it
Past simple
abuted on
yesterday
Past participle
abuted on
have + pp
-ing form
abuting on
continuous
Hear "abut on" in the wild
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Other ways to say "abut on"
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