aboard

1 of 2

adverb or adjective

1
2
a
: on, onto, or within a vehicle (such as a car or ship)
b
: in or into a group, association, or organization
her second promotion since coming aboard
3
baseball : on base

aboard

2 of 2

preposition

: on, onto, within
go aboard ship
aboard a plane

Examples of aboard in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adverb or adjective
He’s intrigued, and, knowing Ruth is in dire straits, asks her to come aboard. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Dec. 2024 The Coast Guard said people familiar with the crew of the Wind Walker reported there were five people aboard. Daniel Arkin, NBC News, 2 Dec. 2024
Preposition
According to a criminal complaint filed on Dec. 5, Dali reportedly snuck aboard Delta Air Lines flight 264 at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport bound for Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris on Nov. 26. Max Hauptman, USA TODAY, 9 Dec. 2024 Now, Sailors can jump aboard any of our ships across an endless variety of exciting destinations for an entire year. Alex Ledsom, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for aboard 

Word History

Etymology

Adverb or adjective

Middle English abord, probably in part borrowed from Middle French a bord, a bort "on board," in part from Middle English a- a- entry 1 + bord "board, side of a ship" — more at board entry 1

Preposition

Middle English abord, derivative of abord aboard entry 1

First Known Use

Adverb Or Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Preposition

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of aboard was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near aboard

Cite this Entry

“Aboard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aboard. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

aboard

1 of 2 adverb
ə-ˈbōrd How to pronounce aboard (audio)
-ˈbȯrd
: on, onto, or within a vehicle (as a car, ship, or airplane)

aboard

2 of 2 preposition
: on or into especially as a passenger
go aboard ship

More from Merriam-Webster on aboard

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