abreast

CEFRC2

/əˈbɹɛst/

adverb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    adverb

    Next to someone or something, at the same level.

  2. 02

    adverb

    Extra detail

    Alongside; parallel to.

Examples

  • Doctors should keep abreast of all the latest developments in medicine.

  • Doctors should keep abreast with all the latest developments in medicine.

At a glance

Sits at C2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
4
Synonyms
3

Deep Dive

adverb

Extra meanings

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

  2. Side by side and facing forward.

  3. Followed by of or with: up to a certain level or line; equally advanced.

More examples

In context

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

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

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

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The soldiers marched blank of each other in perfect formation down the street.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

adverb

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