neighborly
NAY-ber-lee
/ˈneɪ.bə.li/
Characteristic of a good neighbor; friendly, helpful, or cooperative.
Suggests warmth, kindness, and a willingness to help with local matters without being overly intrusive or nosey.
The story behind the word. Neighborly is built from 'neighbor', which comes from the Old English 'neahgebur'. This was a compound of 'neah' (near) and 'gebur' (dweller or peasant). Thus, a neighbor is literally a 'near-dweller', and being neighborly is behaving with the kindness expected of someone living close by.
Word relationships
- friendly: Friendly is a general term for warm behavior, while neighborly specifically implies kindness within a local community context.
- hospitable: Hospitable focuses on welcoming guests into one's home, whereas neighborly is about ongoing daily cooperation next door.
- hostile: Hostile implies active enmity or unfriendliness, the polar opposite of neighborly.
- unneighborly: The direct negative form, meaning cold, uncooperative, or disruptive to local peace.
Commonly confused with
- neighboring: Neighboring means physically adjacent or next door, whereas neighborly refers to friendly and helpful behavior.
Word family
- neighbor (noun): A person living next door or nearby.
- neighborliness (noun): The state of being friendly and helpful as a neighbor.
Collocations
- neighborly gesture
- neighborly duty
- neighborly relations
Example sentences
- "It was very neighborly of Sarah to shovel the snow off Mr. Henderson's driveway while he was recovering from surgery." Community support story
- "He was a very neighborly man, always ready to lend his tools or offer advice on farming." Classic literature
Memory hook
Think of 'neighbor' + 'ly' (like a neighbor). A good neighbor helps you when you are in need. Neighborly neighbors help out.
When not to use
Do not use to describe highly formal, professional, or corporate relationships; it is strictly for local, community, or domestic warmth.
Fun facts
- The concept of 'neighborly love' is a foundational tenet in almost every major world religion, often codified as the Golden Rule.
Related words
Explore more words
hospitable, affable, companionable, amicable, amiable, accommodating
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