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

Under Katz’s proposal, over two million Palestinians would be held in an area a third the size of Washington, D.C., until they can be resettled abroad. —Zaha Hassan, Foreign Affairs, 29 July 2025

Many of them responded by canceling shipments or holding them abroad until the tariff plan becomes clear. —Alina Selyukh, NPR, 29 July 2025

The Gracies have also been involved in the training of military and police units abroad, most notably in the United Arab Emirates, where Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a national sport and is taught in schools. —Sam Eagan, New Yorker, 29 July 2025

Gone are the advocates who fought for women’s rights, LGBTQ+ equality, press freedom and the protection of civil society abroad. —Lynn Northcutt Vega, Sun Sentinel, 29 July 2025

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