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Added 9 October 2026

abreast

/əˈbɹɛst/ adverb

Categories: Describing WordsRare Words

adverb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about abreast at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. Side by side and facing forward. .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}
  2. Alongside; parallel to.
  3. Informed, well-informed, familiar, acquainted.

adjective

  1. Side by side, facing forward.
  2. Alongside; parallel to.
  3. Informed, well-informed, familiar, acquainted.

preposition

  1. Abreast of; alongside.
    This ship sank abreast the island.

Origin

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”.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Related Words: arowalignedalinedside-by-sidecutting-edgeup-to-dateforefrontlookoutunderstandknowledgeableunderstandinginformed

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