abroad

adverb or adjective

ə-ˈbrȯd 

1

: beyond the boundaries of one's country : in or to a foreign country

traveling abroad

hopes to study abroad next year

both at home and abroad

a family that came here from abroad [=from a foreign country] several years ago

2

: over a wide area : widely

wolves venturing abroad in increasing numbers

3

old-fashioned : away from one's home

doesn't go walking abroad at night

4

formal : in wide circulation : about

There are rumors abroad that the company is in trouble.

5

: wide of the mark : astray

Examples of abroad in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But the public servant’s employer rejected their application to travel abroad. — Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026

The ruling concerns how recipients of DACA may travel abroad and their ability to obtain green cards. — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026

The proposal is part of the Senate Finance Committee’s Taxpayer Assistance and Service Act discussion draft, which includes several provisions aimed specifically at Americans living abroad. — Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026

Chris Jackson/Getty Images If Kate Middleton is indeed joining the trip, this will be the couple’s first (official) joint trip abroad in more than three years. — Séraphine Roger, Vanity Fair, 15 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English abrod, abrood, from a- a- entry 1 + brod, brood broad entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for abroad

• applaud
• backboard
• ballade
• defraud
• ephod
• facade
• guffawed
• outlawed
• ramrod
• roughshod
• slipshod
• tripod

Kids Definition

abroad

adverb or adjective

ə-ˈbrȯd 

1

: over a wide area

2

: away from one's home

doesn't go abroad at night

3

: in or to foreign countries

travel abroad

4

formal : in wide circulation

rumors were abroad