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
The roster should have the names and ages or dates of birth of the driver, any staff member and all children aboard, the letter states. Grant Lancaster, Arkansas Online, 9 July 2026 Her hiring marks the first major creative addition to the project since Chu came aboard to direct. Spin Staff, SPIN, 7 July 2026
Preposition
Trump departed Turkey aboard one of the older Boeing VC-25As that have carried presidents for 3½ decades. Michelle L. Price, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026 Seven astronauts who are part of Expedition 74 are living and working aboard the International Space Station. Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 7 July 2026 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Aboard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aboard. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

aboard

1 of 2 adverb
: 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

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