afield

adverb or adjective

ə-ˈfēld 

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

Synonyms of afield

• wrong
• astray
• awry

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

Nearby, textile stronghold Reguengos is famous for its handwoven rugs and blankets, while—further afield—the regional capital Évora is a Unesco World Heritage Site with medieval palaces and a vast gothic cathedral worthy of extended exploration. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Apr. 2026

In my view, forays far afield — for all seasons and all reasons —have led to systematic errors in the conduct of macroeconomic policy. —Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2026

Visitors often head to the port towns of Chania and Elounda, yet Crete has plenty more to see farther afield. —Yulia Denisyuk, Robb Report, 16 Apr. 2026

Countries as far afield as Europe have voiced worry, fearful of the risk to their economies. —Andy Browne, semafor.com, 14 Apr. 2026

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

Rhymes for afield

• airfield
• annealed
• appealed
• brownfield
• coalfield
• concealed
• congealed
• cornfield
• downfield
• goldfield
• hayfield
• infield

Kids Definition

afield

adverb

ə-ˈfēld 

1

: to, in, or on the field

2

: away from home

3

: out of a regular, planned, or proper course : astray