immediate neighbour

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "immediate neighbour" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to someone or something that is directly next to or adjacent to another person or object. Example: "In the new apartment complex, my immediate neighbour is a friendly retired couple."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

Then I spotted my immediate neighbour who's exceptionally tall.

The Guardian - Opinion

But she likes Shonjit Das, the 19-year-old son of her immediate neighbour.

The Guardian

But she likes Shonjit Das, the 19-year-old son of her immediate neighbour.

The Guardian

The camp's outdoor market, popular for meat, sugar, spices, fruits and clothes is Abdihakim's immediate neighbour.

The Guardian

If Finland, Russia's immediate neighbour, feels twitchy enough to think about joining NATO, that may ignite debate in Sweden.

The Economist

But no country will have to adjust to the new reality more than Myanmar's immediate neighbour, Thailand.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

Take Iraq's immediate neighbours.

The Guardian

Their immediate neighbours include the Venda and the Tsonga.

Encyclopedia Britannica

We're just going around greeting our immediate neighbours".

The Guardian - Books

Their immediate neighbours interact with the village daily with many of them working as volunteers on a regular basis.

Harvard University

Today Turkey has problems with nearly all of its immediate neighbours.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing spatial relationships, use "immediate neighbour" to emphasize direct adjacency or proximity. For example, "The park is the building's immediate neighbour" conveys the park is right next to the building.

Common error

Avoid using "immediate neighbour" when you mean a neighbour who lives generally nearby but not necessarily right next door. Use phrases like "nearby residents" or "local community" to describe general proximity, reserving "immediate neighbour" for true adjacency.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "immediate neighbour" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often acting as a subject complement or object in a sentence. It describes someone or something that is directly adjacent or next to another. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

26%

Encyclopedias

12%

Less common in

Academia

7%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "immediate neighbour" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe something or someone directly adjacent. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's versatile enough for use in various contexts, from news and media to scientific literature. While alternatives like ""next-door neighbor"" or ""adjacent neighbor"" exist, "immediate neighbour" offers a balance of formality and clarity, emphasizing direct proximity. Remember to reserve this phrase for situations where true adjacency is intended, distinguishing it from general proximity. In summary, "immediate neighbour" is a useful and precise phrase when you need to specify direct adjacency.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

next-door neighbor

Replaces "immediate" with "next-door", emphasizing physical adjacency.

direct neighbor

Replaces "immediate" with "direct", highlighting a lack of intermediaries.

adjacent neighbor

Uses "adjacent" which has a slightly more formal tone than "immediate".

adjoining neighbor

Uses "adjoining" which implies sharing a common boundary.

neighboring resident

Employs "resident" to highlight the person living nearby rather than just the location.

proximate neighbor

Employs "proximate", a more formal synonym for "near".

nearest neighbor

Focuses on the very closest person or entity.

nearby neighbor

Substitutes "immediate" with "nearby", indicating a close but not necessarily directly adjacent location.

closest neighbor

Focuses on the proximity aspect, suggesting the nearest neighbor.

surrounding neighbor

Uses "surrounding" which implies encompassment and closeness.

FAQs

How can I use "immediate neighbour" in a sentence?

Use "immediate neighbour" to describe something or someone directly adjacent. For example, "The coffee shop is the library's "immediate neighbour"" means they share a wall or are right next door.

What are some alternatives to the phrase "immediate neighbour"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "next-door neighbor", "adjacent neighbor", or "closest neighbor".

Is it better to say "immediate neighbour" or "nearby neighbour"?

"Immediate neighbour" implies direct adjacency, while "nearby neighbour" suggests proximity but not necessarily direct contact. The best choice depends on the specific spatial relationship you want to convey.

When should I use "immediate neighbour" instead of just "neighbor"?

Use "immediate neighbour" when you want to emphasize that the neighbour is the very closest one, right next door or directly adjacent. "Neighbour" alone is sufficient when direct adjacency isn't important.