Lexic.us

Definition of Abreast

1. Adjective. Being up to particular standard or level especially in being up to date in knowledge. "Up on the news"

Definition of Abreast

1. adv. Side by side, with breasts in a line; as, "Two men could hardly walk abreast."

Definition of Abreast

1. Adverb. Informed, well-informed, familiar, acquainted ¹

2. Adverb. Side by side, facing forward ¹

3. Adverb. (context: nautical) Side by side; also, opposite; over against; on a line with the vessel's beam. ¹

4. Adverb. Up to a certain level or line; equally advanced; as, to keep '''abreast''' of [or with] the present state of science. ¹

5. Adverb. (context: obsolete): At the same time; simultaneously ¹

6. Preposition. Abreast of; alongside.(reference-book last = first = authorlink = coauthors = editor =Gove, Philip Babcock others = title = Webster's Third International Dictionary of the English Language Unabridged origdate = origyear = 1909 origmonth = url = format = accessdate = accessyear = accessmonth = edition = date = year =1976 month = publisher =G. & C. Merriam Co. location = Springfield, MA language = id = doi = isbn =0-87779-101-5 lccn = ol = pages =5 chapter = chapterurl = quote =) ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Abreast

1. side by side [adv]

Lexicographical Neighbors of Abreast

Literary usage of Abreast

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Tenures of Land & Customs of Manors by William Carew Hazlitt, Thomas Blount (1874)
"Drums, four abreast, followed by the Drum Major. Trumpets, four abreast, followed by the Serjeant Trumpeter. The Six Clerks in Chancery, four and two, ..."

2. Tenures of Land & Customs of Manors by Thomas Blount, William Carew Hazlitt (1874)
"Drums, four abreast, followed by the Drum Major. Trumpets, four abreast ... Masters of Requests, four abreast. Barons of the Exchequer, and Justices of both ..."

3. The American Journal of the Medical Sciences by Southern Society for Clinical Investigation (U.S.) (1883)
"... devoted to special pathological anatomy, we feel sure that a systematic text-book will be supplied, so fully abreast of the advances recently made in ..."

4. Curiosities of Popular Customs and of Rites, Ceremonies, Observances, and by William Shepard Walsh (1897)
"... young men bear this on their shoulders to the tomb, preceded by a company of others who, hand in hand and some ten abreast, dance and sing ribald songs. ..."

5. Handy-book of Literary Curiosities by William Shepard Walsh (1892)
"... literature, or society, abreast of the times, in the inner circle, etc. The figure is undoubtedly derived from a " swim" or school of fish. ..."

Other Resources: