proximity

proximity — noun

1. the fact of being close to something in distance, time, or relationship — how ne

1.nounB2
Definition

the fact of being close to something in distance, time, or relationship — how near one thing is to another

Example

The hotel's proximity to the beach draws many tourists like the Watanabe family.

proximity to + noun for spatial nearness

The proximity of the two holidays meant Eli's office was closed for a whole week.

proximity of + noun for temporal nearness

Common collocations
  • close proximity
  • proximity to
  • proximity of
  • in proximity to
  • geographical proximity
  • physical proximity
Synonyms
  • closeness

    More emotional or relational than proximity; 'emotional closeness' is natural, 'emotional proximity' is not.

  • nearness

    More informal and concrete than proximity; works best for physical space rather than time or abstraction.

  • vicinity

    Refers to the surrounding area itself ('the area in the vicinity'), not the quality of being near.

Antonyms
  • distance

    The direct opposite — how far apart things are rather than how close.

  • remoteness

    Emphasizes being far away and hard to reach, often in a spatial or emotional sense.

Grammar Patterns

proximity to [something]

proximity of [something] to [something]

in close proximity to [something]

Usage Note

Uncountable noun. Frequently used in the fixed phrase 'in close proximity to', though some style guides consider 'close' redundant since proximity already implies closeness.

Common Mistakes

The proximity with the beach makes it popular.
The proximity to the beach makes it popular.
proximity uses 'to', not 'with'.
There are many proximities between the two ideas.
There is a proximity between the two ideas.
proximity is uncountable and not used in the plural.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe being near something, but they differ in scope and register. 'Proximity' is the most formal and versatile — it works for space ('proximity to the station'), time ('proximity of the two dates'), and abstraction ('proximity in thinking'). 'Closeness' shifts toward personal relationships and emotional bonds; while you can say 'the closeness of the two houses', it sounds slightly odd compared to 'proximity'. 'Nearness' is the most informal and everyday — you might say 'the nearness of the shops' in conversation, but it would seem out of place in a legal or academic document. 'Vicinity' is different: it names the area around a place ('in the vicinity of the school'), not the quality of nearness itself. For example, 'the proximity of the school to the motorway' describes how close they are; 'the school and its vicinity' describes the school and the land around it. Choose 'proximity' for formal or neutral writing about distance or time; 'nearness' for simple conversation; 'closeness' when the emotional dimension matters; and 'vicinity' only when referring to a surrounding area.

closeness ↗nearnessvicinity ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • in close proximity to
  • in the proximity of
  • close proximity

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From Latin 'proximitas' (nearness, neighbourhood), which comes from 'proximus' (nearest, next), the superlative of 'prope' (near). The word entered English in the late 1400s through Old French 'proximité'. The spelling has remained close to the Latin original, while the related word 'approximate' travelled a similar path.