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

how did we get so far afield from the subject we intended to discuss?
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The village of Bellabeg is just a five-minute walk away, and slightly further afield are destinations like Braemar and Royal Deeside (where Balmoral Castle is located). Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 12 Oct. 2025 The opportunities and lifestyle are attracting professionals from far afield and convincing others, who once had to leave, to stay and build long-term careers here. Callum McLennan, Variety, 10 Oct. 2025 The toilet can also plug into a 12-V vehicle outlet or a 100- to 240-V AC outlet, giving users plenty of flexibility in powering it for different scenarios, whether inside a vehicle, at a cabin or farther afield. New Atlas, 9 Oct. 2025 Local versions of that show have been made as far afield as Germany, India and Spain, so Warner Bros. Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for afield

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

Cite this Entry

“Afield.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/afield. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.

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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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