afield

adverb or adjective

1
: to, in, or on the field
was weak at bat but strong afield
2
: away from home : abroad
3
: out of the way : astray
irrelevant remarks that carried us far afield

Examples of afield in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Further afield, along the border of West Virginia, the Heavener Mountain Fire has burned 600 acres, but currently doesn’t have an outlook or forecast of near-term concern. A. Camden Walker, Washington Post, 10 Nov. 2023 Further afield, Backland guests can make the direct, one-hour drive to Grand Canyon National Park or visit one of the many nearby natural attractions, including Sycamore Falls, Wupatki National Monument, Sunset Crater Volcano, and Walnut Canyon National Monument. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 10 Nov. 2023 The shell beads originated in the Mediterranean Sea—some from just 10 miles away from Mount Carmel, and some from much farther afield in the Red Sea, around 250 miles away. Brian Handwerk, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Oct. 2023 But today, China’s biggest military challenges lie further afield. David M. Finkelstein, Foreign Affairs, 4 Oct. 2023 Often, dealers start out mounting shows of work by friends or acquaintances before looking farther afield. Julia Halperin, New York Times, 27 Sep. 2023 Through the oceanic heat El Niño pumps into the atmosphere, and the impact this has on how weather systems move, its reach extends far afield — and even to the planet as a whole. Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 19 Sep. 2023 But the prospect of hundreds of thousands more Palestinians being forcibly displaced to neighboring countries, or even further afield, is being condemned across the Arab world. Nada Bashir, CNN, 25 Oct. 2023 Further afield, Sydney visitors can also visit the Blue Mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that achieved eco-certification earlier this year, meaning the region’s local government, National Parks, and tourism organizations have committed to meeting specific standards of sustainability. Callie Radke Stevens, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'afield.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English afelde, going back to Old English on felda, on felde, from on on entry 1 + felda, felde, dative of feld field entry 1

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of afield was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near afield

Cite this Entry

“Afield.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/afield. Accessed 9 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

afield

adverb
1
: to, in, or on the field
2
: away from home
3
: out of a regular, planned, or proper course : astray

More from Merriam-Webster on afield

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