English Explanatory Dictionary

abreast

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adv
  1. Side by side and facing forward.
  2. Alongside; parallel to.
  3. Informed, well-informed, familiar, acquainted.
  4. Followed by of or with: up to a certain level or line; equally advanced.
  5. Breast high (of an advancing wave).
  6. Side by side; also, opposite; on a line with the vessel's beam.
  7. At the same time; simultaneously.
adj
  1. Side by side, facing forward.
  2. Alongside; parallel to.
  3. Informed, well-informed, familiar, acquainted.
  4. Up to a certain level or line; equally advanced
  5. Side by side; also, opposite; over against; on a line with the vessel's beam.
prep
  1. Abreast of; alongside.

Pronunciation

/əˈbɹɛst/ en-us-abreast.ogg en-au-abreast.ogg

Word forms

abreast

Etymology

From Middle English abrest. By surface analysis, a- (“on, at”) + breast, meaning “breasts (chests) in line, side-by-side and exactly equally advanced”; roughly “breast-by-breast”.

Synonyms

apprised informed up to date up-to-date

Derived words

line abreast
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