long time abroad

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "long time abroad" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to an extended period spent in a foreign country. Example: "After a long time abroad, I finally returned to my hometown and reconnected with old friends."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"I am approaching 80 years old and spend an increasingly long time abroad, and cannot make it to games.

BBC

Exclusion criteria were: terminal illness, dementia, no understanding of Dutch, planning to move or spend a long time abroad or planning to move to a nursing home.

BMC Geriatrics

Persons are excluded if, according to their GP, they are terminally ill, suffer from dementia, do not understand Dutch, plan to move or spend a long time abroad or live in a nursing home.

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Humanitarian aid organizations often need volunteers, and will feed and house you if you're willing to spend a long time working abroad.

WikiHow

The top three American colleges whose students spent the longest time studying abroad were Saint Louis University in Missouri (which operates a full campus in Spain that confers four-year degrees); Pepperdine University in California; and New York University.

The New York Times

So called "social and humanitarian support" of biobanks became a separate intellectual research abroad long time ago (primarily, in the EU and North America).

Life Sciences, Society and Policy

"To them, she went abroad a long time ago and should be rich".

The New Yorker

It is a long time since anyone has been abroad on holiday, or met an American or an Arab – anyway, a new passport takes a year to arrive.

The Guardian

People do perhaps feel that he's been abroad for a long time, and that it would be good for him and us if he came back here.

The Guardian - Film

But she added: "This is extremely alarming news given that there has been a pattern of attacks, assassinations and attempted assassinations against Rwandans living abroad for a long time now.

The Guardian

"After living abroad for a long time I remember coming back and reading magazines like Harper's, with smart people writing interesting stuff but not taking into account what was going on in other places," Ms. Messinger said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "long time abroad", ensure the context clearly indicates the purpose or impact of spending that time overseas. For instance, specify the benefits gained or the reasons for the extended stay.

Common error

Ensure that when discussing someone's "long time abroad", it's clear who spent that time overseas. Ambiguous pronoun references can confuse the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "long time abroad" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, noun, or adjective to describe the duration of an experience or state related to being in a foreign country. Ludwig examples showcase its use in describing living, studying, or working abroad.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "long time abroad" is a grammatically correct and understandable way to describe an extended duration spent in a foreign country. Ludwig's analysis confirms that this phrase is used to provide context about the duration of an individual's experiences overseas. While the phrase is generally neutral in register and can be used in various contexts, it's important to ensure clarity regarding who spent time abroad and the impact of that experience. For alternatives, consider phrases like "extended period overseas" or "lengthy stay in a foreign land" to add variety to your writing. As Ludwig AI states, this phrase is appropriate for describing significant periods spent in a foreign country.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extensive period living abroad

Replaces "time" with "period" and adds the verb "living" to describe the act.

extended period overseas

Focuses on the duration and location, using 'overseas' instead of 'abroad'.

years spent in another country

Specifies the unit of time and replaces "abroad" with "another country".

lengthy experience living overseas

Focuses on the experience gained while living overseas for a prolonged period.

lengthy stay in a foreign land

Replaces "abroad" with a more descriptive phrase and uses "lengthy" to emphasize duration.

prolonged residence overseas

Emphasizes the residential aspect of being abroad for a long duration.

a good while overseas

Uses a more informal tone, replacing "long time" with "a good while".

significant time expatriated

Uses the term "expatriated" to specify living outside one's native country.

drawn-out sojourn overseas

Uses "drawn-out" to indicate a prolonged period.

considerable sojourn overseas

Uses a more formal word, "sojourn", for a temporary stay.

FAQs

How can I use "long time abroad" in a sentence?

You can use "long time abroad" to describe an extended period spent in a foreign country. For example: "After a long time abroad, he returned with new perspectives."

What are some alternatives to saying "long time abroad"?

Alternatives include phrases like "extended period overseas", "lengthy stay in a foreign land", or "prolonged residence overseas" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "long time abroad"?

Yes, "long time abroad" is grammatically correct and commonly used to refer to an extended period spent in a foreign country, as confirmed by Ludwig AI.

What does "long time abroad" imply?

The phrase "long time abroad" implies that someone has spent a significant amount of time living or traveling in a foreign country, often suggesting a transformative or impactful experience.