abreast

[ uh-brest ]

adverb

1. side by side; beside each other in a line:

   They walked two abreast down the street.

2. equal to or alongside in progress, attainment, or awareness (usually followed by of or with ):

   to keep abreast of scientific developments; keeping abreast with the times.

abreast

/ əˈbrɛst /

adjective

1. alongside each other and facing in the same direction
2. foll byof or with up to date (with); fully conversant (with)

Word History and Origins

Origin of abreast¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; a- ¹ + breast

Example Sentences

Informers kept the NKVD secret police abreast of what those who defended him said in private conversation.

From The Daily Beast

Curious housewives stepped out in their aprons to watch them march down the road, four abreast waving two large American flags.

From The Daily Beast

Social media has kept me abreast of many plot twists and turns as firestorms of outrage and smugness come and go.

From The Daily Beast

For diehards of the show, staying abreast of everything that happens to Ted and the gang is moderately difficult.

From The Daily Beast

Stay abreast of the political-science research when you can, but remember that some of it may be worthless.

From The Daily Beast

From our vantage point we watched them come abreast and pass us at a distance well within a mile.

From Project Gutenberg

A big car was passing slowly up the village street, and as it came abreast the smithy the doctor raised his hat.

From Project Gutenberg

He sprinted over the crest of the hill and thought he heard the sound almost abreast of him, away to the right.

From Project Gutenberg

Then she showed the children how to get a fair start, by standing abreast and holding a stick.

From Project Gutenberg

She was not a road wagon, but a van driven by five horses, three leaders abreast, and reaching London in sixteen hours.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• acquainted
• informed