Neighbor
/ˈneɪbər/
Definitions
2 meaningsA person living next to or near another.
/ˈneɪbər/
A person who lives near or next to another.
Our neighbors are very kind and always offer to help.
💡 Simply: Your neighbor is the person who lives right next to you, in the house or apartment next door. They might be friendly, and you might see them often!
👶 For kids: A neighbor is someone who lives near you.
More Examples
The new neighbors moved in last week.
I waved to my neighbor as I left for work.
How It's Used
"I have a friendly neighbor who often helps me with my garden."
"The houses in this neighborhood are close, so we are all neighbors."
To be located next to or near something.
/ˈneɪbər/
To live close to someone or something.
France neighbors Germany to the east.
💡 Simply: To neighbor means to be right next to something else, like how two countries share a border or how ideas might be connected in your thoughts.
👶 For kids: When something neighbors something else, it means they are close to each other.
More Examples
The two houses neighbor each other on the street.
His concerns neighbor with mine.
How It's Used
"Canada neighbors the United States."
"The two ideas neighbor each other in his mind."
Idioms & expressions
good neighbor policy
A foreign policy of non-intervention and cooperation.
"The US implemented a good neighbor policy with Latin American countries."
From Middle English neighebour, from Old English nēahġebūr (“near dweller”), from nēah (“near”) + ġebūr (“dweller, farmer”), related to German Nachbar and Dutch buurman.
The word "neighbor" has been used since the Old English period and initially referred to those living nearby. The meaning has remained relatively consistent.
Memory tip
Think of the person who lives next door – your neighbor!
Word Origin
"near dweller"