afield

adverb or adjective

ə-ˈfēld 

1

: to, in, or on the field

was weak at bat but strong afield

2

: away from home : abroad

3

: out of the way : astray

irrelevant remarks that carried us far afield

Synonyms

• amiss
• astray
• awry
• wrong

Examples of afield in a Sentence

how did we get so far afield from the subject we intended to discuss?

Recent Examples on the Web

True Anomaly will take its space-security work far afield next year. —Mike Wall, Space.com, 3 Apr. 2025

For those who live truly far afield from wired and even wireless networks, the best option might be Starlink. —PC Magazine, 1 Apr. 2025

As that language indicates, her treatment of divorce is measured, a bit opaque, and resolutely abstract—far afield from the battle of the sexes that characterized last year’s election. —Molly Fischer, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2025

Sharp readers will recall that the USSR extended past Russia and Ukraine; this is a vision that is incomplete without looking afield to Estonia, Lithuania (both NATO members) and other former republics. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 15 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English afelde, going back to Old English on felda, on felde, from on on entry 1 + felda, felde, dative of feld field entry 1

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for afield

• airfield
• annealed
• appealed
• brownfield
• coalfield
• concealed
• congealed
• cornfield
• downfield
• goldfield
• hayfield
• infield

Kids Definition

afield

adverb

ə-ˈfēld 

1

: to, in, or on the field

2

: away from home

3

: out of a regular, planned, or proper course : astray