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

With tariffs, war abroad and slowing growth at home, China's tech companies bear a growing national responsibility. —Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 11 Mar. 2026

Years earlier, Borg ditched his Norwegian family to seek out art-house fame abroad. —Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026

Since the end of the regional and global commercial surge of Japan three decades ago, national economic problems have often seemed to dominate domestic debate and attention from abroad. —Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026

Wars abroad are tricky things because our brains have trouble applying consequences happening half a world away to our immediate existence. —Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 10 Mar. 2026

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