Emigrate vs Immigrate
Published January 19, 2023. Updated January 19, 2023.
Emigrate and immigrate are two words that share similar meanings, yet they differ in their usage. Both verbs are related to moving out of a country, yet they differ in the direction of that movement. Emigrate is a verb that refers to “the movement of a person or people from a country.” Immigrate, similarly, is also a verb, yet it refers to “the movement of a person or people to a country.”
Here are some definitions and example sentences to help you determine the differences between each verb.
Emigrate (verb)
The movement of a person or people from a country.
Examples:
The flooding in the rural regions of the country has forced the farmers to emigrate from their land.
Because the economy in California has gotten worse, many middle-class families have emigrated from major cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego.
Remember that when one is emigrating, they are exiting a place. If you can replace the word emigrate with the word exit, then you are using the correct verb.
Immigrate (verb)
The movement of a person or people to a country.
Examples:
About 50 years ago, my parents immigrated to Southern California from Mexico to start a new life.
A better economy, safer living environments, and natural beauty are all factors that cause people to immigrate to new countries.
Remember that when one is immigrating, they are entering into another country. If you can replace immigrate with “enter (into),” then you are using the correct verb.
Main Points
- Emigrate is verb that refers to moving from one’s home country.
- Immigrate is a verb that refers to moving to a new country.
- Remember that emigrate means to exit from a country, while immigrate means to enter a new country.