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abreast

abreast

2 5.8
Next to each other and facing the same way
  • adverb
  • /əˈbrɛst/
translation icon : lado a lado
  • Some magazines he read just to keep himself abreast, as he said, of what the dogs were up to.
  • walk abreast
  • stand abreast
  • two abreast

Examples

  • We came abreast of the naked natives in an eerie slow-motion silence.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • Millet kept abreast of Sensier's weekly articles and occasionally gave more advice.

    Academic text (2007)
  • The crowd starts walking abreast to the vessels.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • We have chosen to have them walking four men abreast, A suitable width for most roads.

  • Try it on a nice July morning, and it's two blocks of cyclists abreast.

    Blog text (6)
  • Shorten sail until the other ships come abreast.

  • They've come abreast of the checkpoint, which can be seen in the distance through the trees.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • The sidewalk was wide enough for two people to walk abreast without bumping into each other.

  • Two cyclists rode abreast along the quiet country road, enjoying the view together.

  • As the parade moved forward, the dancers stayed abreast, performing in sync with each other.

Synonyms

side by side
vsabreast
98 2.2

Next to each other in the same place

emphasizes that they also face the same direction
20 3.3

Standing very close together in a row or group

also implies they face the same way while standing close
alongside
vsabreast
7 1.0

Next to someone or something, side by side

adds that they share the same facing direction

Antonyms

1.0

Not together because of distance, time or different homes

Surface Forms

abreast positive

Morphology

abreast = breast (semi-transparent) = a + breast

The physical sense 'side by side' comes from 'a-' + 'breast' (originally 'at the breast'), which is historically literal but the prefix 'a-' is fossilized and the connection may not be obvious to learners.

Etymology

Abreast comes from old parts a- 'at' and breast 'chest', where it meant being 'at the chest' of another person or ship — that is, side by side and facing the same way. That's why we still use abreast to describe people, runners, or ships moving 'side by side'.