abroad
- 01 B1 Intermediate
adv.playing a game at the opponent's stadium rather than your own.
adv.relating to a sports fixture played at the opponent's venue rather than the home ground.
Simple“The team has a great record at home but struggles when playing abroad.”
In context“Securing a draw abroad was considered a tactical victory for the underdog team before the return leg of the tournament.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
adv.outside of a house or moving around freely in public.
adv.outside the confines of a home or building; circulating freely within a community.
Simple“Few people were abroad in the streets during the heavy snowstorm.”
In context“Rumours were soon abroad that the king had fallen ill, causing panic throughout the capital.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is mostly found in older literature or formal news reports; modern speakers usually say 'out and about' or 'circulating'.
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.foreign countries or lands in general.
n.foreign lands or countries collectively. Used as the object of a preposition.
Simple“He had just returned from abroad when the news reached him.”
In context“The company's profits were bolstered by a sudden surge in demand from abroad.”
UsageCommonly follows the preposition 'from'.
Synonyms
First attested in the mid 13th century, from the Middle English abrood, meaning broadly or widely scattered. The term is formed from the prefix a-, signifying on or in, and brood, meaning broad. It remains a simple compound of a- + broad.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.