abroad

abroad — 副詞

1. in, to, or from a country that is not the one where you live, usually one you mu

1.副詞B1
釋義

在國外

在自己國家以外的國家

in, to, or from a country that is not the one where you live, usually one you must cross a border or sea to reach.

例句

Merry spent a year studying abroad at a university in Berlin.

瑪麗在柏林的一所大學留學了一年。

study + abroad collocation

My grandparents have never travelled abroad because they are afraid of flying.

我的祖父母從來沒有出國，因為他們害怕搭飛機。

travel + abroad

同義詞
  • overseas

    very close in meaning; often suggests crossing a sea, common in British English

  • internationally

    more formal, focuses on between-country activity rather than location

反義詞

文法句型

go/live/study/work + abroad

from abroad

用法筆記

Used after a verb or noun, never before it. Note that 'abroad' on its own already means 'in or to a foreign country', so 'go to abroad' is wrong; just say 'go abroad'.

常見錯誤

❌My sister wants to go to abroad next year.
✅My sister wants to go abroad next year.
💡'abroad' is an adverb, so no preposition 'to' is needed.
❌He has been in abroad for ten years.
✅He has been abroad for ten years.
💡same reason; 'in' is not used before 'abroad'.

2. outside the house, especially walking around in a public place; this use sounds

2.副詞C1
釋義

在屋外

離開家、在屋外活動（古舊用法）

outside the house, especially walking around in a public place; this use sounds old-fashioned or literary today.

例句

Few people were abroad in the village square at that early hour.

那麼早的時間，村莊廣場上沒幾個人在外頭走動。

literary: people + abroad meaning out and about

A heavy fog had settled, and only the night watchman was still abroad.

濃霧籠罩，只有守夜人還在外面巡視。

old-fashioned narrative use

同義詞
  • out

    the everyday modern equivalent

  • outdoors

    neutral, common in modern English

反義詞

文法句型

be + abroad

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1: here 'abroad' has nothing to do with foreign countries; it simply means out of the house. Now mostly found in older novels and literary writing — modern speakers usually say 'out' or 'outside'.

常見錯誤

❌Lots of kids were abroad in the playground.' (in everyday speech)
✅Lots of kids were out in the playground.
💡modern English uses 'out' or 'outside'; 'abroad' here sounds very old-fashioned.

3. passing from person to person so that many people now know about, talk about, or

3.副詞C2
釋義

流傳；盛傳

（消息、感受）廣為傳播

passing from person to person so that many people now know about, talk about, or feel something — typically rumours, fears, or moods.

例句

There is a rumour abroad that the old factory will be torn down next month.

外面流傳著一個謠言，說那座舊工廠下個月就要被拆掉。

there is + rumour + abroad

A strong sense of hope was abroad in the city after the election.

選舉結束後，這座城市瀰漫著一股強烈的希望感。

feeling + be abroad

同義詞
  • around

    informal everyday equivalent: 'a rumour going around'

  • circulating

    more neutral, common in news writing

  • widespread

    adjective; describes the same idea but used before a noun

反義詞
  • secret

    the opposite idea: not yet known by many

文法句型

there is/are + noun + abroad

用法筆記

Subject is usually an abstract noun like rumour, story, fear, hope, or feeling — not a person or object. Often appears in 'there is X abroad' or 'X is abroad'. Formal or journalistic; in casual talk, prefer 'going around' or 'spreading'.

常見錯誤

❌Many tourists are abroad in the city this summer.' (intending sense 3)
✅There is a feeling of excitement abroad in the city this summer.
💡sense 3 needs an abstract subject (rumour, mood, fear), not people.
❌The news is abroad the country.
✅The news is abroad in the country.
💡'abroad' is not a preposition; it does not take a direct object.