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Language Foundation

boarding

Boarding is the pre-departure status of a flight, train, or other service in which passengers are currently getting onto the vehicle before it leaves.

In plain English

It names the stage just before a service leaves, when people are entering the vehicle. The term is used for a flight, train, or other transport service at that moment.

In context

Here, it reports that the service is in the pre-departure stage when passengers are currently getting onto the vehicle.

Situation
Using rail, bus, metro, ride, and local-transit tickets and service updates
What it communicates
reports that passenger entry is currently open.

Meaning limits

By itself, boarding does not indicate how much time remains before the service leaves.

Examples

“Boarding had begun, and a line of passengers was moving onto the ferry.”

Core meaning

“At the platform, the conductor announced that boarding was under way for the night train.”

In context

  • pre-departure status Broader Term

    Boarding is one kind of status shown before a service leaves.

  • departed Contrast

    Departed shows that the service has already left, not that passengers are getting on.