onboard

American  

[on-bawrd, awn-] / ˈɒnˈbɔrd, ˈɔn- /

Or on-board

adjective

1. provided, occurring, etc., on a vehicle.

   among the ship's many onboard services.

2. installed and functional within a vehicle or electronic device.

   onboard computers for aircraft.

---

verb (used with object)

Business.

1. to assist and support (a new employee) in developing the skills, knowledge, attitudes, etc., needed to do their job.

2. to interact and exchange information with (a new customer) so as to ensure customer satisfaction, maximize company revenue, etc..

   Part of onboarding new clients involves setting expectations and timelines.

3. to digitize and upload customer data collected offline, typically to improve the results of personalized data-driven marketing.

   The data we onboarded matched existing data online, providing us with better insight into the individual’s purchasing habits.

Etymology

Origin of onboard

First recorded in 1965–70; adjective use of adverb phrase on board

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

onboard

“With Adobe facing significant headwinds from AI, we expect the board of directors may also see changes to onboard deeper AI expertise,” the Jefferies analyst added.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 3, 2026

The team onboard plates roughly 3,000 meals per journey through the Outback.

From Salon ● Aug. 30, 2026

United Flight 93 was one of four hijacked jets and was reportedly headed to the US Capitol when passengers and crew onboard fought the hijackers, before it crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, killing all aboard.

From Barron's ● Aug. 30, 2026

When Starlink satellites need to shift position, they can do so autonomously, using an onboard propulsion system and avoidance software.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 30, 2026

And then, finally, on a bright Saturday morning in May, Edward and Abilene and Mr. and Mrs. Tulane were all onboard the ship, standing at the railing.

From "The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane" by Kate DiCamillo