overseas

American  

[oh-ver-seez, oh-ver-seez] / ˌoʊ vərˈsiz, ˈoʊ vərˈsiz /

especially British, oversea

adverb

1. over, across, or beyond the sea; abroad.

   to be sent overseas.

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adjective

1. of or relating to passage over the sea.

   overseas travel.

2. situated beyond the sea.

   overseas territories.

3. pertaining to countries, associations, activities, etc., beyond the sea.

   overseas military service; overseas commitments.

noun

1. (used with a singular verb) countries or territories across the sea or ocean.

overseas British  

adverb

1. beyond the sea; abroad

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adjective

1. of, to, in, from, or situated in countries beyond the sea

2. Also: oversea.  of or relating to passage over the sea

noun

1. informal (functioning as singular) a foreign country or foreign countries collectively

Etymology

Origin of overseas

before 1150; oversea ( Middle English overse, Old English ofer sǣ; over-, sea ) + -s ³ or -s ¹

Example Sentences

He said playing professionally overseas has been “like me trying to scratch a last itch.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026

Post-Brexit regulations since 2021 also mean all players moving to England from overseas must be at least 18 years old and qualify for entry through a points-based system.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

Shares were down 1% in overseas trading, while the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average were up 0.8% and 0.7%, respectively.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

The company is balancing its expansion strategy between China and its overseas markets, eyeing Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Riyadh as its near-term international growth engines, they add.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

So along with a rivalry to grab overseas colonies, Britain and Germany engaged in a costly competition to build bigger and better battleships.

From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman

Related Words

• abroad
• foreign