1 C1 neutral
To arrange for a child to live and eat in someone else's home, often while paying for their care.
"During the evacuation, many city families boarded their children out with families in the countryside."
separable
board out
C1 neutral separable transitive
To arrange for a person or animal to live and eat somewhere other than their usual home, typically while paying for it.
In plain English
To send a person or pet to stay and eat somewhere else, usually by paying someone to look after them.
What does "board out" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 neutral
To arrange for a pet to stay and be fed at someone else's home or a facility while the owner is away.
"We boarded our dog out with a neighbour every time we went on holiday."
separable
Usage tip
Used mainly in British English. Often refers to boarding children at a relative's or foster home, or placing a pet in a kennel or cattery. Becoming less common; 'put into care' or 'board' alone are more frequently used today.
Words that pair with "board out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
children dog cat pet lodger pupil
How to conjugate "board out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
board out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
boards out
he/she/it
Past simple
boarded out
yesterday
Past participle
boarded out
have + pp
-ing form
boarding out
continuous
Hear "board out" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "board out" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "board out"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.