bordering

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'bordering' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used as a verb or an adjective, depending on the context. For example: "The lake was bordering the forest." (verb) "The lake had a bordering forest." (adjective).

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Or try river cruise camping, where you sail by day in a small Skellig vessel and pitch your tent each night at campsites bordering the river.

The Guardian - Travel

With bluster bordering on threats, the industry is signaling Congress that it should change the law if, as has happened so far, the courts continue to rule the new service legal.

The Guardian - Opinion

But for the other 10 months of the year, the trickle of diners who come to feast on fantastically fresh seafood reflects the general pace of life in the Alentejo: sleepy, bordering on comatose.

The Guardian - Travel

Last month, Orban, who has ruled Hungary since 2010, described the EU's quotas for taking in asylum-seekers as "bordering on insanity".

The Guardian

— Wings Over Scotland (@WingsScotland) May 14, 2014 Considering how friendly, bordering on obsequious, the questioning is, Osborne looks incredibly uncomfortable and nervous.

The Guardian

The UK prime minister, David Cameron, has asked his officials to see if more of the country's aid budget can be urgently redirected to countries bordering Libya.

The Guardian

His vessel, the Bhavna Putra, is one of dozens nestled in the bay bordering the Arabian Sea in this tiny nautical hamlet.

The Guardian

In Kono in the eastern province bordering Guinea, it is thought men from Ebola-hit areas travelling for illegal diamond mining may have been a factor in the sudden outbreak.

The Guardian

Carlyle makes these transitions look easy, but the lengths to which he will go in pursuit of what he refers to gravely as ‘truth’ or ‘honesty’ are often extreme, bordering on obsessively weird.

The Guardian - Film

In a Sunday Telegraph article Cameron warned that Isis has declared an "extremist caliphate" that could soon lead to a "terrorist state on the shores of the Mediterranean and bordering a Nato member [Turkey]".

The Guardian

In fact, Russian assets - troops, aircraft, tanks and armoured vehicles - in just one region bordering Ukraine are bigger than its smaller neighbour's entire military.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing geographical locations, use "bordering" to clearly indicate shared boundaries between regions or countries. For example, "The province bordering the capital experienced rapid growth."

Common error

While "bordering" can be used figuratively (e.g., "bordering on arrogance"), ensure the context is clear. Overusing it in abstract senses can weaken your writing. Opt for more precise terms like "approaching" or "resembling" when not referring to literal boundaries.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "bordering" is as a verb (present participle) or an adjective. It describes something that is next to or shares a boundary with something else. Ludwig AI confirms the word's correct and usable status.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "bordering" is a versatile term used to describe adjacency and shared boundaries, both literally and figuratively. As Ludwig AI confirms, its grammatical correctness and high frequency across various sources—especially in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science contexts—highlight its importance in effective communication. While alternatives such as "adjacent to" and "neighboring" can offer similar meanings, "bordering" specifically emphasizes the shared boundary itself. Therefore, use "bordering" to clearly indicate when regions or entities share a common edge.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

adjacent to

Focuses on the immediate physical proximity between two entities.

abutting

Emphasizes a direct physical contact or touching of boundaries.

adjoining

Highlights the shared boundary and connection between two areas or objects.

neighboring

Indicates that something is located in the vicinity of another thing.

verging on

Suggests approaching a state or condition, often used figuratively.

encircling

Implies surrounding something in a complete or almost complete manner.

flanking

Describes being situated on either side of something else.

outskirts of

Refers to the outer parts or edges of a place.

close to

Indicates a general proximity without specifying the nature of the boundary.

on the edge of

Emphasizes being located at the boundary or periphery of something.

FAQs

How can I use "bordering" in a sentence?

You can use "bordering" to describe something that shares a boundary with something else, such as "The state is "bordering Canada"" or to describe something that is close to being something else, such as "His behavior was "bordering on rude"".

What are some alternatives to using "bordering"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "adjacent to", "neighboring", or "abutting" when referring to physical boundaries. For figurative uses, consider "verging on" or "approaching".

Is it correct to say "bordering on"?

Yes, "bordering on" is a correct and commonly used phrase. It indicates that something is close to being a particular thing or in a particular state, often used to describe qualities or behaviors such as "bordering on insanity".

What's the difference between "bordering" and "adjacent"?

"Bordering" implies sharing a common boundary or edge, while "adjacent" simply means being next to each other. "Bordering" specifically refers to the boundary itself, whereas "adjacent" only indicates proximity.