afar
adverb
from, at, or to a distance; far away (usually followed byoff ).
afar
1 American
[uh-fahr]
/ əˈfɑr /
adverb
idioms
Afar
2
American
[ah-fahr]
/ ˈɑ fɑr /
noun
-
Afars,
plural
-
Afara,
plural
-
Afar
plural
-
a member of a nomadic Muslim people living in Eritrea, Djibouti, and northern Ethiopia.
-
the Northern Cushitic language spoken by the Afars.
afar
British
/ əˈfɑː /
adverb
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of afar
1125–75; Middle English a fer, on ferr; replacing Old English feorran. See a- 1 (perhaps also a- 2 for the meaning “from”), far
Explanation
If something's off at a distance, you can describe it as being afar. You might write a letter to your pen pal in Japan, and say, "This note comes to you from afar." Afar is a poetic and old-fashioned way to say "far away" or "distant." If your summer visitors have traveled from afar, they've come a long way to see you, and if your boyfriend moves to Australia, you might have to continue your relationship from afar. The word is a shortened form of the Old English of feor, in which of means "of" or "on," and feor is "far, remote, or distant."
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.
See Examples For:
This was very frustrating to observe from afar.
From Slate ● Oct. 6, 2026
By linking observations from afar with laboratory chemistry and future spacecraft measurements, the research provides a new path toward solving one of Venus's longest-standing mysteries.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 13, 2026
Watching from afar, he believes England have the talent to improve on an erratic 2025-26 campaign.
From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026
Three or four hours would slip by with her in a trancelike state, fingers sweeping across her phone screen as she consumed social media, following every Taliban edict and distress posting from afar.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 6, 2026
Sometimes she drew it as seen from afar, sometimes she chose one of its buildings and drew it in detail.
From "The City of Ember" by Jeanne DuPrau
The source estimated that at least 150,000 people have been displaced in Afar, but said it was impossible to give precise numbers.
From Barron's ● Sep. 27, 2026
The rebels also clashed with government troops in neighboring Afar, in the sharpest escalation of hostilities since the end of the devastating civil war.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026
Umer, the cattle herder in Afar, said he was worried that an outbreak of disease could start killing his adult camels anytime now.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
The fossils were recovered from the Hadar Formation in Ethiopia's Afar region.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 13, 2026
Afar off, in the east, the Seasons had opened the massive Gates of Cloud, and we had a glimpse of the old Olympian gods in conclave august, feasting upon ambrosial food.
From In Both Worlds by William Henry Holcombe
Afara Lalaind, who filed her civil complaint Thursday at Stanley Mosk Courthouse in downtown L.A., also alleges her reputation “has been ruined” and her chance for advancement is gone.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2024
Signing up are the proud, aggressive Angelus Lipahi and the earnest, hardworking Ezekiel Afara, both inspired by glossy magazine images of surfing superstars.
From New York Times ● Feb. 3, 2012
Meanwhile the French Territory of Afars and Issas, with its key port of Djibouti, which provides an Ethiopian rail link to the sea, gains independence from Paris next month.
From Time Magazine Archive
In the case of the Afars, for instance, he has asked the elders to designate which tribesmen should be armed.
From Time Magazine Archive
On a world map the Territory of the Afars and Issas resembles a wart on the Horn of Africa.
From Time Magazine Archive
"To disarm them all is unacceptable to the Afars," Meles explains.
From Time Magazine Archive
Background: The French Territory of the Afars and the Issas became Djibouti in 1977.
From The 2002 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency
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