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 detour took us on a historic route near Banff and Lake Louise that all the experts aboard (and there were many) said was even more scenic than the usual way. —Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2026

All six aboard were killed, including the pilot, Captain Hernando Torres, and passengers Juan Manuel Rodríguez, Óscar Marín, Jefferson Osorio, and Weisman Mora, authorities and the singer’s team said. —Theresa Braine, Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2026

Preposition

The Federal Aviation Administration said Monday that one member of the crew survived with serious injuries but everyone else aboard died. —Patrick Whittle, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026

It’s been 190 years since 22-year-old Charles Darwin arrived at the Galápagos during his five-year voyage aboard the HMS Beagle. —Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 26 Jan. 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