adj
Common
adjacent
uh-JAY-suhnt
Adjacent (adj) means Right next to something else, or sharing a border with it. Example: “Our seats were in adjacent rows, so we could chat during the interval.”
adj
1
Right next to something else, or sharing a border with it.
"Our seats were in adjacent rows, so we could chat during the interval."
"The hotel is adjacent to the train station, so it's easy to catch an early train."
"They bought the plot of land adjacent to their existing farm."
2
Closely related to or bordering on something in a more abstract sense.
"Product design is a field adjacent to engineering, but it needs different skills."
"She works in a job adjacent to journalism, writing copy for websites."
"His research is adjacent to psychology, though he's trained as a biologist."
How to use adjacent
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRight beside or bordering something.
Common mistake
Adjacent things touch or are very close, but don't have to overlap — two adjacent rooms share a wall, they aren't the same room.
Common pairings
adjacent to
adjacent room
adjacent property
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Word forms
- Plural
- adjacents
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Our seats were in _____ rows, so we could chat during the interval.
Etymology
From Latin adiacens, "lying beside," from ad- ("to") plus iacere ("to lie down") — the same root that gives us "adjacent" its sense of touching or bordering.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for adjacent
See all rhymes for adjacent →Frequently asked questions
What does “adjacent” mean?
The word “adjacent” means right next to something else, or sharing a border with it. In plain terms, right beside or bordering something.
How do you pronounce “adjacent”?
“Adjacent” is pronounced uh-JAY-suhnt (/əˈd͡ʒeɪ.sənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “adjacent” in a sentence?
Here is “adjacent” used in a sentence: “The hotel is adjacent to the train station, so it's easy to catch an early train.”
What part of speech is “adjacent”?
“Adjacent” is an adjective.
Where does the word “adjacent” come from?
The word “adjacent” comes from Latin. From Latin adiacens, "lying beside," from ad- ("to") plus iacere ("to lie down") — the same root that gives us "adjacent" its sense of touching or bordering.
Is “adjacent” a common word?
“Adjacent” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “adjacent” have?
“Adjacent” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: right next to something else, or sharing a border with it.
What is the difference between adjacent and adjoining?
"Adjacent" means right next to or very near something, but the two things need not touch. "Adjoining" is stronger and means the two things share a common boundary or wall — all adjoining things are adjacent, but adjacent things are not always adjoining.
What is the difference between adjacent and opposite?
"Adjacent" describes something lying next to or beside another thing, while "opposite" describes something facing it from across a space. In a room, the adjacent wall is the one to your side; the opposite wall is the one in front of you.
Which preposition follows adjacent?
"Adjacent" is normally followed by "to," as in "the field adjacent to the school." It can also stand after a noun on its own ("the adjacent field"), but when linking two things directly, "adjacent to" is the standard form.
Can "adjacent" be used figuratively?
Yes. Beyond physical nearness, "adjacent" can describe things closely related to or bordering on each other in an abstract sense, such as "finance-adjacent work," meaning work close to but not exactly finance. This figurative use has become common in informal writing.
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