emigrate

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "emigrate" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a person leaving their home country in order to settle in another. For example: "Due to political instability, the family decided to emigrate to a safer country."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This is one of our most frequent errors immigrate to arrive in a country; emigrate to leave one Hence immigrant, immigration, emigrant, emigration Immigration and Nationality Directorate may be called "the immigration service" immune to not immune from impact a noun, not a verb: say "affected" rather than the awful jargon phrase "impacted on".

The Guardian

Given the constant threats of online bullying, porn, violent video games and the rest, it's little wonder I spend the remaining 40% of my time Googling far-flung places to emigrate to the day they hit 10.

The Guardian - Opinion

I've often mentioned a well-known joke from the last decade of the Soviet Union, but it couldn't be more apposite: Rabinovitch, a Jew, wants to emigrate.

The Guardian

In 1992, he was among the first wave of Russian dancers to emigrate, going first to the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and, in 1997, to the Royal Danish Ballet.

The Guardian

Young Estonians are also taking advantage of EU membership to emigrate in droves.

The Guardian

His father was a scientist – a geologist who did mapping for the government – and yet was politically assertive enough to emigrate to Spain in the mid-1980s because of Margaret Thatcher.

The Guardian

I think Barry Glendenning should emigrate to head it up so that I can enjoy a pint with him ;-) Kath Viner replies:  @Fingerbang72 - as our sports editor Tom Lutz says, 'a pint with Barry Glendenning can lead you to some very interesting places'... be careful what you wish for!

The Guardian

The war has created a strong pressure to emigrate and this is most keenly felt by people from the Tamil community".

The Guardian

One million people died and another million were forced to emigrate, which is why there are people of Irish background all over the world, not least in Australia.

The Guardian - Opinion

Do you think the children she once cared for, and who desperately need help, have benefited from her decision to emigrate?

The Economist

The numbers trying to emigrate illegally, and the diplomatic friction with Europe that accompanies them, can only increase.Furthermore, Arab rulers are as old as their populations are young, a fact that only exacerbates political problems.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "emigrate" when specifying the act of leaving one's country to live permanently in another. Pair it with a preposition like "from" (e.g., "emigrate from Italy").

Common error

Avoid using "emigrate" when you mean to describe arriving in a new country. "Emigrate" refers to leaving a country, while "immigrate" refers to entering one.

Linguistic Context

The word "emigrate" functions primarily as an intransitive verb, describing the act of leaving one's country to settle elsewhere. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "emigrate" refers to the act of leaving one's country to settle permanently in another. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and widely used, especially in news and media. It’s crucial to distinguish "emigrate", meaning to leave, from "immigrate", meaning to enter a new country. Common alternatives include "leave one's native land" or "relocate abroad". Remember to use "emigrate from" to specify the country of origin.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

leave one's native land

Emphasizes departure from the homeland, focusing on the origin being left behind.

relocate abroad

Highlights the act of moving to a foreign country, with a focus on the destination.

move overseas

Specifically indicates moving to a different continent or across an ocean.

seek a new life elsewhere

Focuses on the desire for a better existence in a different location.

resettle in another country

Implies a more permanent move and establishment in a new nation.

go into exile

Suggests a forced departure, often due to political reasons.

take up residence abroad

Formal way of saying someone is starting to live in a foreign country.

depart for foreign shores

A more literary or poetic way to express leaving for another country.

migrate from one's homeland

Focuses on the act of migration from the original country.

quit one's country

Simple and direct expression of leaving one's nation.

FAQs

How do I use "emigrate" in a sentence?

"Emigrate" describes leaving one's country to settle in another. For example, "Many Irish people "emigrated" during the Great Famine".

What is the difference between "emigrate" and "immigrate"?

"Emigrate" means to leave one's country, while "immigrate" means to enter a new country to live there. They are opposite actions from different perspectives.

What can I say instead of "emigrate"?

You can use alternatives like "leave one's native land", "relocate abroad", or "move overseas" depending on the context.

Which is correct: "emigrate to" or "emigrate from"?

The correct usage is "emigrate from", as it specifies the country being left. "Emigrate to" is grammatically incorrect; instead, use "immigrate to" when referring to the destination country.