afield
Americanadverb
-
abroad; away from home.
-
off the beaten path; far and wide.
to go afield in one's reading.
-
off the mark.
His criticism was totally afield.
-
in or to the field or countryside.
-
beyond the range or field of one's experience, knowledge, acquaintanceship, etc..
a philosophy far afield of previous philosophical thought.
adverb
-
away from one's usual surroundings or home (esp in the phrase far afield )
-
off the subject; away from the point (esp in the phrase far afield )
-
in or to the field, esp the battlefield
Etymology
Origin of afield
before 1000; Middle English afelde, Old English on felda. See a- 1, field
Explanation
Afield means at a far distance. When you go far afield, you travel a very long way. If your job takes you halfway around the world, you can say that you work far afield, and if you and your siblings live on different continents, your family is spread far afield. You'll almost always see the word "far" before afield, since it describes long distances. The word was originally a contraction of the Middle English in felde, from the Old English on felda, "in the field."
Vocabulary lists containing afield
The Hunger Games
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!
The Odyssey
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 Girl Who Drank the Moon
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.
But as crews venture further afield to the moon and Mars, medical evacuation would not be an option and astronauts would need to have broader medical skills and be surgically capable.
From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026
As you might imagine, Kalamazoo is a bit afield from typical book-tour routes, so when writers come through, readers take note.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026
She appeared in Vogue and People magazines, on national programs, like the “Today” show and “The Mike Douglas Show,” and traveled to teach around the country and as far afield as Australia and Moscow.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026
Those that venture further afield as shale matures could benefit most.
From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026
The kilns in the neighbouring villages were kept busy firing the bricks, but their output was insufficient, and the carts had to go farther afield, returning dusty and brick-filled.
From "Nectar in a Sieve" by Kamala Markandaya
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.
