afield

adverb or adjective

ə-ˈfēld How to pronounce afield (audio)
Synonyms of afieldnext
1
: to, in, or on the field
was weak at bat but strong afield
2
: away from home : abroad
3
: out of the way : astray
irrelevant remarks that carried us far afield

Synonyms of afield

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Examples of afield in a Sentence

how did we get so far afield from the subject we intended to discuss?
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Ebola outbreak that began in DR Congo is becoming a continental crisis after authorities initially underestimated its spread, the head of Africa’s public health agency told Semafor as new cases were reported as far afield as Nigeria. — Ruben Nyanguila, semafor.com, 23 Oct. 2026 Japanese producers have been co-producing with their East Asian neighbors in Taiwan and South Korea for quite some time but have recently been venturing further afield into Southeast Asia and Europe. — Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2026 Wandering further afield, Wright recounts the case of Walker Railey, a Methodist minister accused of strangling his wife and leaving her in a vegetative state. — Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026 Organizers expect more than 5,000 content players from Asia and further afield, representing 60 countries and regions. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for afield

Word History

Etymology

Middle English afelde, going back to Old English on felda, on felde, from on on entry 1 + felda, felde, dative of feld field entry 1

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of afield was before the 12th century

Rhymes for afield

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Browse Nearby Words

aficionado
afield
a fight for one's life
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Cite this Entry

“Afield.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/afield. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

afield

adverb
ə-ˈfēld How to pronounce afield (audio)
1
: to, in, or on the field
2
: away from home
3
: out of a regular, planned, or proper course : astray
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