abroad
B1Neutral to formal
Definition
Meaning
In or to a foreign country or countries.
Being outside one's own country; widely circulated or known; in different directions; at large.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily an adverb, but can function as a predicative adjective (e.g., 'She is abroad'). Does not take a direct object. Often implies travel or residence outside one's native land.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. Slight preference in UK English for 'abroad' over 'overseas' in everyday speech.
Connotations
Neutral in both varieties. Can imply leisure travel, business, study, or living.
Frequency
Very high frequency in both varieties, with comparable usage levels.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + be + abroad[Subject] + go/travel/live + abroad[Subject] + return from + abroadVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “news from abroad”
- “rumours are abroad”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to international operations, markets, or postings (e.g., 'Our sales team is travelling abroad').
Academic
Common in contexts of study abroad programmes or international research.
Everyday
Used for holidays, visiting family, or general travel outside one's country.
Technical
Rare in highly technical fields; more common in international relations, economics, or travel contexts.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adverb
British English
- They decided to holiday abroad this summer.
American English
- She moved abroad after graduating.
adjective
British English
- She's currently abroad on business.
American English
- He will be abroad for the entire semester.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My sister lives abroad.
- We want to travel abroad next year.
- Studying abroad was an amazing experience for him.
- The company has several offices abroad.
- While abroad, she immersed herself in the local culture and language.
- Policies formulated domestically often have significant repercussions abroad.
- The minister's controversial remarks were widely reported both at home and abroad.
- Economic instability abroad can directly impact domestic investment portfolios.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: A BROAD horizon – when you go abroad, your horizons become broader.
Conceptual Metaphor
FOREIGN COUNTRIES ARE DISTANT PLACES / EXPERIENCE IS EXPANSION.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating directly as 'за границей' for all contexts; 'abroad' is an adverb, not a noun like 'заграница'.
- Do not use with prepositions like 'in' or 'to' incorrectly (e.g., 'in abroad' is wrong).
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a noun (e.g., 'I visited an abroad' – incorrect).
- Adding unnecessary prepositions (e.g., 'to abroad').
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'abroad' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is primarily an adverb (e.g., 'live abroad'). It can function as a predicative adjective after verbs like 'be' (e.g., 'He is abroad'). It is not used as a standard noun.
No, that is incorrect. 'Abroad' already contains the meaning of 'to a foreign country', so you simply say 'go abroad', 'travel abroad', etc. Do not add the preposition 'to'.
They are largely synonymous. 'Overseas' literally implies crossing a sea, so it's less used for neighbouring countries accessible by land. 'Abroad' is more general and common in everyday UK English. In US English, both are common.
You use it with a past tense verb. The word 'abroad' itself does not change. For example: 'She lived abroad for five years.' or 'They travelled abroad last Christmas.'
Collections
Part of a collection
Travel Vocabulary
A2 · 50 words · Words for getting around, booking trips and visiting new places.