What does abroad mean?
"Abroad" is an adverb meaning in or to a foreign country — anywhere outside one's own nation. It is one of the most common words in discussions of travel, education, and work: people go abroad on holiday, study abroad during university, live abroad as expatriates, and send goods or news abroad. Unlike many location words, it stands alone grammatically: one says "she went abroad," never "went to abroad." The word's origins are surprisingly domestic — it comes from Middle English "on brode," combining the prefix "a-" with "broad," and originally meant "widely, at large" rather than overseas. That older sense lingers faintly in phrases like "a rumor abroad." Today the word carries connotations of adventure, opportunity, and cross-cultural experience, and it pairs naturally with verbs of movement such as go, travel, live, study, and work. Its near-homophone "aboard," meaning on a ship or plane, is a frequent source of confusion for learners.
In or to a foreign country or countries; away from one's own country.
"They emigrated abroad in search of better opportunities."
Never used with a preceding preposition — say "go abroad," not "go to abroad."
(Archaic or rare) A wide extent; the state of being widely spread or at large.
"The report was soon abroad throughout the city."
This noun usage is now largely obsolete except in the idiom "a rumor abroad."
Despite sounding like it came from some exotic tongue, "abroad" is simply "a-" plus "broad" — literally meaning "broadly, at large," before English speakers narrowed it to mean "overseas."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of abroad
"Abroad" derives from Middle English "on brode," formed from the prefix "a-" (from Old English "on") plus "broad," and originally meant "widely, at large" rather than specifically overseas. Over time the phrase contracted into the single word "abroad," and by roughly the early modern period its meaning had narrowed to refer to foreign countries, especially those across the sea. It shares its root with "broad" itself and related forms such as "breadth" and "broaden." The unrelated-looking near-homophone "aboard" has an entirely separate origin, from "on board."
How abroad is actually used
"Abroad" is used almost exclusively as an adverb and is never followed by a preposition like "to" — you say "go abroad," not "go to abroad." It carries a neutral-to-positive connotation associated with travel, opportunity, and international experience. The older sense of "widely, at large" survives mainly in fixed phrases such as "a rumor abroad."
Easily confused with abroad
"Aboard" means on or into a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle, while "abroad" means in or to a foreign country.