# onboard

/ˈɑnˌbɔɹd/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/onboard
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to integrate a new employee

verb · CEFR B2 · Academic · Formal

to help a new employee start their job by giving them the training and tools they need.

For teachers: to integrate a new employee into an organisation through training and orientation. Transitive — takes the person being integrated as the object.

- The company will onboard five new engineers next Monday morning.
- The human resources department has developed a comprehensive digital portal to onboard remote employees more efficiently during the first week of their contract.

Usage: Often used in corporate environments to describe the formal process of hiring and training.

### 2. to sign up a new customer

verb · CEFR B2 · Technical

to help a new customer or user start using a product or service.

For teachers: to facilitate the initial experience of a new user or client with a product, service, or platform.

- The app makes it very easy to onboard new users in just two minutes.
- The fintech startup focused on reducing friction when they onboard new clients to ensure a higher retention rate during the trial period.

### 3. located inside a vehicle

adjective · CEFR B2

available or located inside a car, plane, ship, or other vehicle.

For teachers: situated or carried within a vehicle, vessel, or aircraft. Usually placed before the noun.

- Most modern cars come with an onboard navigation system.
- The aircraft is equipped with sophisticated onboard diagnostics that alert the ground crew to potential mechanical issues before the plane even lands.

### 4. on a vehicle

adverb · CEFR B2 · American English · Technical

on or inside a vehicle or ship.

For teachers: positioned on or within a vehicle or vessel. Often written as two words ('on board') in general contexts, but 'onboard' is common in technical or American English usage.

- The captain welcomed the passengers as they came onboard.
- Once all the cargo was safely secured onboard, the vessel began its journey across the Atlantic.

## Examples

- We need to onboard the new staff quickly.
- The HR team onboarded the interns by giving them access to the company software and introducing them to their mentors.
- Effective onboarding goes beyond administrative paperwork; it involves immersing new hires in the company culture so they feel valued and productive from their first week.

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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.