abreast

Etymology

From Middle English abrest. By surface analysis, a- (“on, at”) +‎ breast, meaning “breasts (chests) in line, side-by-side and exactly equally advanced”;^[1] roughly “breast-by-breast”.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /əˈbɹɛst/

• Audio (US):

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• Audio (General Australian):

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• Rhymes: -ɛst
• Hyphenation: abreast

Adverb

abreast (not comparable)

1. Side by side and facing forward. [First attested from around (1350 to 1470.)]^[2]

   Hyponym: neck and neck (as horses racing)

   Coordinate term: tandem

   • 2012 July 15, Richard Williams, “Tour de France 2012: Carpet tacks cannot force Bradley Wiggins off track”, in Guardian Unlimited‎:

     On Sunday afternoon it was as dark as night, with barely room for two riders abreast on a gradient that touches 20%.

   • 1859, Thomas Babington Macaulay, The History of England from the Accession of James the Second:

     The only path was narrow and rugged: two men could hardly walk abreast;

2. (figurative) Alongside; parallel to. [First attested in the mid 17^th century.]^[2]
3. Informed, well-informed, familiar, acquainted. [First attested in the mid 17^th century.]^[2]
4. Followed by of or with: up to a certain level or line; equally advanced. [First attested in the mid 17^th century.]^[2]

   She believes it is important to keep abreast of new scientific developments.

5. (Scotland) Breast high (of an advancing wave).

   The west wind blew a tempest, and, according to the common expression, brought in the water [of the Solway] three foot abreast.

6. (nautical) Side by side; also, opposite; on a line with the vessel's beam. [First attested in the late 17^th century.]^[2]
7. (obsolete) At the same time; simultaneously.
   • 1842, Thomas Fuller, The Church History of Britain, From the birth of Jesus Christ until the year MDCXLVIII., 3rd edition, volume 1, page 412:

     Abreast therewith began a convocation.

Adjective

abreast (not comparable)

1. Side by side, facing forward. [First attested from around (1350 to 1470.)]^[2]
2. (figurative) Alongside; parallel to. [First attested in the mid 17^th century.]^[2]
3. Informed, well-informed, familiar, acquainted. [First attested in the mid 17^th century.]^[2]
4. Up to a certain level or line; equally advanced [First attested in the mid 17^th century.]^[2]

   to keep abreast of [or with] the present state of science

   • c. 1900, Kate Chopin, A Reflection:

     Some people are born with a vital and responsive energy. It not only enables them to keep abreast of the times; it qualifies them to furnish in their own personality a good bit of the motive power to the mad pace.

5. (nautical) Side by side; also, opposite; over against; on a line with the vessel's beam. [First attested in the late 17^th century.]^[2]

Preposition

abreast

1. Abreast of; alongside.^[3]

   This ship sank abreast the island.

References

• “abreast”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
• “abreast”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
• “abreast, adv.”, in The Dictionary of the Scots Language, Edinburgh: Scottish Language Dictionaries, 2004–present, →OCLC.

Anagrams

• Baaster, Sabater, Tabares, abaters, bat ears, rabates