abreast

Meanings

Adverb

  • Side by side and facing forward.
  • Alongside; parallel to.
  • Informed, well-informed, familiar, acquainted.
  • Followed by of or with: up to a certain level or line; equally advanced.
  • Breast high (of an advancing wave).
  • Side by side; also, opposite; on a line with the vessel's beam.
  • At the same time; simultaneously.

Adjective

  • Side by side, facing forward.
  • Alongside; parallel to.
  • Informed, well-informed, familiar, acquainted.
  • Up to a certain level or line; equally advanced
  • Side by side; also, opposite; over against; on a line with the vessel's beam.

Related

Similar words

Origin

  • From Middle English abrest, equivalent to a- + breast, meaning “breasts (chests) in line, side-by-side and exactly equally advanced”; roughly “breast-by-breast”.

Modern English dictionary

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