# emigrate

/ˈɛməˌɡɹeɪt/ (US) · /ˈɛmɪɡɹˌeɪt/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/emigrate
Updated: 2026-05-19

## Definition

to leave your own country to live in another one. You usually do this for a long time or for good.

For teachers: to leave one's own country to settle permanently in another. Transitive when used with a destination; intransitive when the destination is implied or not specified.

## Examples

- Many people emigrate to find better jobs.
- After finishing his degree, he decided to emigrate to Canada to start a new life.
- The historical records show that thousands of families emigrated during the nineteenth century, driven by economic hardship and the promise of fertile land in the west.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.