aboard

1 of 2

adverb or adjective

ə-ˈbȯrd 

1

: alongside

2

a

: on, onto, or within a vehicle (such as a car or ship)

b

: in or into a group, association, or organization

her second promotion since coming aboard

3

baseball : on base

aboard

2 of 2

preposition

: on, onto, within

go aboard ship

aboard a plane

Examples of aboard in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb or adjective

The Royals had two runners aboard in the ninth, but couldn’t scratch a run across the plate. — Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026

Now, with Brown aboard, the 76ers are in a much better position to compete against the Knicks and other top Eastern Conference opponents. — Tim Casey, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026

Preposition

More than 120 people got sick in a norovirus outbreak aboard a Princess Cruises ship, marking the cruise line’s third this year. — Nathan Diller, USA Today, 2 July 2026

There were 47 people aboard the train when the derailment occurred, and no injuries were reported. — Joe Brandt, CBS News, 1 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adverb or adjective

Middle English abord, probably in part borrowed from Middle French a bord, a bort "on board," in part from Middle English a- a- entry 1 + bord "board, side of a ship" — more at board entry 1

Preposition

Middle English abord, derivative of abord aboard entry 1

First Known Use

Adverb Or Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Preposition

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for aboard

• abhorred
• accord
• adored
• afford
• award
• baseboard
• billboard
• blackboard
• boxboard
• breadboard
• broadsword
• buckboard

Kids Definition

aboard

1 of 2 adverb

ə-ˈbōrd 

-ˈbȯrd

: on, onto, or within a vehicle (as a car, ship, or airplane)

aboard

2 of 2 preposition

: on or into especially as a passenger

go aboard ship