abreast
Americanadverb
-
side by side; beside each other in a line.
They walked two abreast down the street.
-
equal to or alongside in progress, attainment, or awareness (usually followed by of orwith ).
to keep abreast of scientific developments; keeping abreast with the times.
adjective
-
alongside each other and facing in the same direction
-
up to date (with); fully conversant (with)
Etymology
Origin of abreast
Explanation
There's nothing worse than being stuck on a narrow path behind two people walking abreast of one another. If they only knew you were there, they'd walk single file so you could pass them. Abreast means side by side. In a marathon, you watch the frontrunners, but it's also important to pay attention to who is coming up the side and abreast of the leader. They are the most likely to find it within themselves to sprint forward for the win. Abreast can also mean "informed or up-to-date." If you're a big fan of comics, you probably keep abreast of all the latest publications and conventions.
Vocabulary lists containing abreast
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
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Dracula
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"Mending Wall," by Robert Frost
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
As part of the company’s initiative to grow revenue and stay abreast of competition, the Wall Street Journal reported last month that OpenAI is shelving “side quests” to focus on core enterprise and productivity tools.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026
WSJ keeps you abreast of developments with live coverage here.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026
Thomas said at a press conference after his unveiling that he had "kept abreast of Welsh politics" and was "very informed" about the country's political scene.
From BBC • Feb. 5, 2026
“It’s very useful for staying abreast of any trends in the culinary world,” he said, and his routine proved to be pivotal in winning the $223,000 prize for “Culinary Class Wars.”
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 29, 2025
The road was just wide enough for two carts to pass abreast, so whenever a wagon headed west passed one going east, both had to slow to a crawl.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
