move abroad

Meanings

1. 1phraseintransitive

   to go to live in a different country, usually for a long time or permanently.

   Grammar: No object: the phrase already contains the direction, so do not add to before abroad.

   Patterns

   • move abroad for work
   • move abroad with someone
   • move abroad to do something

   They decided to move abroad after their youngest child finished school.

   She moved abroad for work and only comes home at Christmas.

   Moving abroad means learning a new language and new paperwork.

2. 2phrasetransitive or intransitivebusiness

   to take a business or organization to another country.

   Grammar: Can be used with an object naming the business: the firm moved its factory abroad.

   Patterns

   • move something abroad
   • move production abroad

   The company moved production abroad to cut costs.

   Many firms moved abroad and left the town without jobs.

Common combinations

move abroad for work

He moved abroad for work and sends money home every month.

move abroad permanently

They sold the house and moved abroad permanently.

decide to move abroad

We decided to move abroad while we were still young enough to enjoy it.

move abroad with children

Moving abroad with children takes a lot of planning.

think of moving abroad

Have you ever thought of moving abroad?

Synonyms and how they differ

emigrate

More formal and focuses on leaving your own country; move abroad is the everyday phrase and can also describe a company.

relocate

Often used for job transfers and sounds more businesslike; move abroad is plainer and more personal.

Opposites

Word family

expatriate noun

a person who lives outside their own country

Commonly confused: move abroad or aboard?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “move abroad”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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