Abreast definition

ə-brĕst
Up to date.

Keeping abreast of the latest developments.

adverb
8
1
Side by side.

Ships docked two abreast.

adverb
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Abreast means to keep up with something and to stay up-to-date.

An example of abreast is the president of a company that stays informed on the competition’s new products.

adverb
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Side by side, as in going or facing forward.
adverb
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Informed (of) or conversant (with) recent developments.
adverb
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Side by side, facing forward. [First attested from around (1350 to 1470.)]
adverb
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(figuratively) Alongside; parallel to. [First attested in the mid 17th century.]
adverb
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Informed, well-informed, familiar, acquainted. [First attested in the mid 17th century.]
adverb
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Up to a certain level or line; equally advanced; as, to keep abreast of [or with] the present state of science. [First attested in the mid 17th century.]
adverb
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(nautical) Side by side; also, opposite; over against; on a line with the vessel's beam. [First attested in the late 17th century.]
adverb
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Side by side, facing forward. [First attested from around (1350 to 1470.)]
adjective
0
0
(figuratively) Alongside; parallel to. [First attested in the mid 17th century.]
adjective
0
0
Informed, well-informed, familiar, acquainted. [First attested in the mid 17th century.]
adjective
0
0
Up to a certain level or line; equally advanced; as, to keep abreast of [or with] the present state of science. [First attested in the mid 17th century.]
adjective
0
0
(nautical) Side by side; also, opposite; over against; on a line with the vessel's beam. [First attested in the late 17th century.]
adjective
0
0
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Abreast of; alongside.

This ship sank abreast the island.

preposition
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Abreast is defined as things that are next to each other.

An example of abreast is a row of soldiers marching in a parade.

adverb
0
1

Origin of abreast

  • From Middle English a (“on”) + brest (“breast”), in sense “breasts (chests) in line, side-by-side and exactly equally advanced”; roughly “breast-by-breast”.

    From Wiktionary

Abreast Sentence Examples

  • He insisted on being kept abreast of the news.

  • The three of them walked abreast along a narrow road consisting of no more than two bare strips of dirt in the grass.

  • In education the Catholic Church endeavours to keep abreast with the best.

  • Then the clang of hoofs, as of several horses galloping, resounded on the planks of the bridge, and the squadron, officers in front and men four abreast, spread across the bridge and began to emerge on his side of it.

  • Schelling, already on the way to fame, kept Hegel abreast with German speculation.

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Words near abreast in the Dictionary