What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
suburban
Example
They moved to a suburban neighborhood to raise their family. [suburban: adjective]
Example
Suburban life offers a quieter and more relaxed pace than city living. [suburban: noun]
outlying
Example
The outlying villages were affected by the recent flood. [outlying: adjective]
Example
We had to travel to the outlying areas to find the best hiking trails. [outlying: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Suburban is more commonly used in everyday language, especially in the context of describing residential areas outside of a city or town. Outlying is less frequently used and more formal.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between suburban and outlying?
Outlying is more formal than suburban and is typically used in more professional or academic contexts.
