astern
Americanadverb
-
in a position behind a specified vessel or aircraft.
The cutter was following close astern.
-
in a backward direction.
The steamer went astern at half speed.
adverb
-
at or towards the stern
-
with the stern first
full speed astern!
-
aft of the stern of a vessel
Etymology
Origin of astern
Explanation
Astern means at the rear of a ship, boat, or plane. If your seat on an airplane is astern, you'll have to walk all the way to the very back to find it. While you can use astern to mean "at the back" or "behind," it's most common to save this adjective for when you're on a sailboat or describing the tail section of an airplane. The word was originally nautical, meaning "toward the stern of the boat," or "at the back of the ship." One theory about the origin of astern and stern says their root is the Old Norse stjorn, "a steering."
Vocabulary lists containing astern
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.
The Ferraris staged a frantic scrap over the first five laps in which they seemed to spend almost as much time side by side as in line astern.
From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2024
On the oval track at Alexandria’s Edison High School, they raced in the mile, 100, 200, 400 and 800-meter events — all facing astern.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 9, 2022
Observing the usual ceremony, the cars were rolled to the grid in line astern by white-overalled mechanics.
From The Guardian ● Mar. 29, 2020
Halfway between New Zealand and Cape Horn, he was on the deck when a huge wave came from astern and broke over the boat.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 19, 2019
When Krete was out of sight astern, no land anywhere to be seen, but sky and ocean, Kronion put a dark cloud in the zenith over the ship, and gloom spread on the sea.
From "The Odyssey" by Homer
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.
