What does reboard mean?
Reboard means to board again, most commonly to get back onto a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle after having disembarked. A flight might be delayed while passengers reboard, and a ferry might pause at a port before reboarding. The verb can also be used more figuratively: someone who leaves a profession or organization and later returns may be described as reboarding it. Reboard is related in meaning and formation to aboard and board, but it differs from both in expressing a repeated action. Its use is relatively uncommon, and spelling it as “re-board” can sometimes make the intended sense clearer. The word is useful in precise writing about travel and departures, though “get back on” is often more conversational and readily understood.
verbTo board a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle again, especially after having left it. It may also be used figuratively to mean returning to a place, organization, or course of action.
- To board a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle again after leaving it.
- To return to a place, organization, activity, or course of action previously left.
"After the storm forced the ferry to turn back, the passengers were allowed to reboard in calmer weather."
"Passengers were asked to remain seated while the plane reboarded."
"After several years away, she reboarded the organization and quickly became one of its most active members."
Once a ship has left everyone on shore, getting back aboard is not just a return journey—it is a reboard.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does reboard come from?
Reboard is formed in English by combining the prefix re-, meaning “again,” with board in the sense of going onto a ship or vehicle. The nautical meaning of board ultimately derives from Old English bord, meaning “side” or “plank,” and the same Germanic root underlies words such as aboard and, through Old French, border. The prefixing of re- to express a second boarding is transparent and follows the usual English pattern for repeated actions.
Related word forms
How reboard is actually used
This is an uncommon word, most often encountered in travel, nautical, and aviation contexts. It is also sometimes written with a hyphen as “re-board,” particularly when the phrase might otherwise be ambiguous; usage and house style vary.
Easily confused with reboard
Reboard means to board or get aboard again, whereas rebound usually means to bounce back or, as an adjective, to be re-entered or returned.