aboard
Americanadverb
-
on board; on, in, or into a ship, train, airplane, bus, etc..
to step aboard.
-
alongside; to the side.
-
Baseball. on base.
a homer with two aboard.
-
into a group as a new member.
The office manager welcomed him aboard.
preposition
idioms
adverb
-
on, in, onto, or into (a ship, train, aircraft, etc)
-
nautical alongside (a vessel)
-
a warning to passengers to board a vehicle, ship, etc
Etymology
Origin of aboard
1350–1400; Middle English abord ( e ) ( see a- 1, board), perhaps conflated with Middle French a bord
Explanation
The adverb aboard means on board, as in on a ship, train or plane. Usually the captain will welcome you aboard with a brief speech if you're lucky — or a long one if you're not. Aboard comes from the French phrase à bord, which has the same meaning as the English word — on board. If you were just hired, your new manager might say "Welcome aboard" (the figurative company train). The phrase "All aboard!" is said as a warning before departure, especially before a ship or train leaves. It means, in essence: haul your keister up here quick or you'll be left behind!
Vocabulary lists containing aboard
Words Every Pirate Should Know
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Cormac McCarthy's "The Road"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"The Star-Spangled Banner" and "The Flag We Love"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Lululemon also agreed to bring aboard another director with expertise in apparel by Oct.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 4, 2026
More than a dozen Americans exposed to hantavirus aboard a cruise ship earlier this spring might soon be allowed to leave a Nebraska quarantine unit and isolate at home for three more weeks.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026
A Hong Kong astronaut has been launched into space for the first time, aboard China's Shenzhou-23 spacecraft.
From BBC • May 25, 2026
China also plans to welcome its first foreign astronaut, from Pakistan, aboard the Tiangong station by the end of this year.
From Barron's • May 24, 2026
“I arrived just as the children were climbing aboard this noble coach of polished ebony, if you don’t mind the poetical language. My muse seems to be back in full force.”
From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
