adv
Uncommon
onboard
on-BAWD
Onboard (adv) means On or inside a ship, aircraft, train, or other vehicle. Example: “Passengers were asked to remain onboard during the delay.”
adv
1
On or inside a ship, aircraft, train, or other vehicle.
"Passengers were asked to remain onboard during the delay."
verb
1
To integrate a new employee or customer into an organization or system.
"HR spent the first week onboarding the new hires."
"The app walks new users through onboarding with a short tutorial."
How to use onboard
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBeing on a vehicle, or (in business) getting someone set up as a new employee or user.
Common pairings
onboard a new hire
onboarding process
stay onboard
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like onboard.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- onboards
- Third person singular
- onboards
- Past tense
- onboarded
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Passengers were asked to remain _____ during the delay.
Etymology
A fusion of "on" and "board," from the older phrase "on board."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for onboard
board
hoard
aboard
keyboard
cupboard
outboard
seaboard
backboard
starboard
cardboard
surfboard
clipboard
See all rhymes for onboard →
Frequently asked questions
What does “onboard” mean?
The word “onboard” means on or inside a ship, aircraft, train, or other vehicle. In plain terms, being on a vehicle, or (in business) getting someone set up as a new employee or user.
How do you pronounce “onboard”?
“Onboard” is pronounced on-BAWD (/ɒnˈbɔːd/ in IPA).
How do you use “onboard” in a sentence?
Here is “onboard” used in a sentence: “Passengers were asked to remain onboard during the delay.”
What is the opposite of “onboard”?
The opposite of “onboard” — its antonyms — is offboard.
What part of speech is “onboard”?
Depending on how it is used, “onboard” can be an adverb and a verb.
Is “onboard” a common word?
“Onboard” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “onboard” have?
“Onboard” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: on or inside a ship, aircraft, train, or other vehicle.
What is the difference between "onboard" and "aboard"?
Both mean on or inside a ship, aircraft, or train, and they are largely interchangeable as adverbs. "Onboard" is more common in modern travel and computing contexts, while "aboard" feels slightly more traditional or nautical.
Is "onboard" one word or two?
As an adverb meaning inside a vehicle, and as a verb meaning to integrate a new employee, "onboard" is written as one word. Some style guides still use "on board" as two words in the adverbial sense, so both forms appear in edited text.
What does "onboard" mean in a business context?
In business and HR, "onboard" is a verb meaning to integrate a new employee or customer into an organization or system, covering training, paperwork, and orientation. This usage has become standard in corporate English since the term "onboarding" spread through HR departments.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include onboard:
