# overseas

/ˈoʊvɝˈsiz/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/overseas
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to or in a foreign country

adverb · CEFR B1

in or to another country, usually one across a sea or ocean.

For teachers: to or in a location across a sea; used to describe travel, residence, or operations in a foreign territory.

- Many students choose to study overseas to experience a different culture.
- The company decided to expand its operations overseas after seeing significant demand for its products in the European and Asian markets.

Usage: Typically follows the verb of movement or state.

### 2. relating to foreign countries

adjective · CEFR B1

coming from, happening in, or relating to a foreign country.

For teachers: relating to, situated in, or coming from a country across the sea.

- The university has a large number of overseas students from all over the world.
- The government is reviewing its overseas aid budget to ensure the funds are reaching the most vulnerable populations effectively.

Usage: Attributive use only; it almost always appears before the noun it modifies.

### 3. living in a foreign country

adjective · CEFR B2 · Academic · Formal

used to describe people of a certain nationality who live in a different country.

For teachers: denoting members of an ethnic or national group living outside their ancestral or home country.

- The festival was organized by the local overseas Chinese community.
- The ministry established a new department to handle the specific legal and consular needs of its overseas citizens living in North America.

## Examples

- The company is looking for new overseas markets.
- Many universities rely on tuition fees from overseas students to fund their research programs and campus upgrades.
- The corporation's aggressive expansion into overseas territories required a complete overhaul of its logistics network to manage the increased complexity of international shipping.

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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.