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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

Related Words

forward, onward, also, simultaneously, too, on, forth, accompanying, additionally, besides, furthermore, likewise, moreover, with, adjacent, at, by

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.