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definitions
  • synonyms

along

[uh-lawng, uh-long]
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preposition
  1. through, on, beside, over, or parallel to the length or direction of; from one end to the other of: to walk along a highway; to run a border along a shelf.
  2. during; in the course of: Somewhere along the way I lost my hat.
  3. in conformity or accordance with: I plan to revise the article along the lines suggested.
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adverb
  1. by the length; lengthwise; parallel to or in a line with the length or direction: He ran along beside me.
  2. with a progressive motion; onward: The police ordered the line to move along.
  3. (of time) some way on: along toward evening.
  4. in company; in agreement (usually followed by with): I'll go along with you. He planned the project along with his associates.
  5. as a companion; with one: She took her brother along.
  6. from one person or place to another: The order was passed along from the general to the captain and from the captain to a private.
  7. at or to an advanced place or state: Work on the new ship is quite far along.
  8. as an accompanying item; on hand: Bring along your umbrella.
  9. along of, Chiefly Southern U.S. and British Dialect.
    1. owing to; because of: We weren't invited, along of your rudeness.
    2. in company with: You come along of me to the store.
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Verb Phrases
  1. get along. get1(def 36).
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Idioms
  1. all along, all the time; throughout: I knew all along that it was a lie.
  2. be along, Informal. to arrive at a place; come: They should be along soon.
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Origin of along

before 900; Middle English; Old English andlang, equivalent to and- (cognate with Old Saxon, Old Norse and-, Gothic and(a)-, Old High German ant-, prefix with orig. sense “facing”; cf. answer) + lang long1
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for along

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • Tell Aunt Cornelia, please, that I shall be along in just a moment.

    The Spenders

    Harry Leon Wilson

  • I can get along for a few hours, and then I'll have a doctor look at it.

    Brave and Bold

    Horatio Alger

  • Along the edge of the green pines and spruce were lavender asters.

    The Spenders

    Harry Leon Wilson

  • One of our horses is very lame, and we have a little trouble in getting him along.

  • Got on the track just before dark and followed it along a few miles.

British Dictionary definitions for along

along

preposition
  1. over or for the length of, esp in a more or less horizontal planealong the road
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adverb
  1. continuing over the length of some specified thing
  2. in accompaniment; together with some specified person or peoplehe says he'd like to come along
  3. forwardthe horse trotted along at a steady pace
  4. to a more advanced statehe got the work moving along
  5. along with accompanying; together withconsider the advantages along with the disadvantages
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Word Origin

Old English andlang, from and- against + lang long 1; compare Old Frisian andlinga, Old Saxon antlang

xref

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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for along

prep.

Old English andlang "entire, continuous; extended; all day long; alongside of," from and- "opposite, against" (from Proto-Germanic *andi-, *anda-, from PIE *anti "against," locative singular of *ant- "front, forehead;" see ante) + lang "long" (see long (adj.)). Sense extended to "through the whole length of."

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Idioms and Phrases with along

along

In addition to the idioms beginning with along

  • along for the ride
  • along in years
  • alongside of
  • along the lines of
  • along with

also see:

  • all along
  • all along the line
  • be along
  • come along
  • follow along
  • get along

go alongplay alongrun along string along.

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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.