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ABREAST
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Being up to particular standard or level especially in being up to date in knowledge
Example:
up on the news
Synonyms:
abreast; au courant; au fait; up on
Classified under:
Similar:
informed (having much knowledge or education)
II. (adverb)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Alongside each other, facing in the same direction
Classified under:
Context examples:
He then commanded his general (who was an old experienced leader, and a great patron of mine) to draw up the troops in close order, and march them under me; the foot by twenty-four abreast, and the horse by sixteen, with drums beating, colours flying, and pikes advanced.
(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)
“Ride by my side, friends, I entreat of you,” said the knight, reining in his steed that they might come abreast of him.
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
The carriages rocked and pitched like boats in a seaway, as they lumbered along, fifty abreast, scrambling and lurching over everything which came in their way.
(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
We were now dead before the wind, the boat far away and abreast of us.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
Buck, on the bank, worried and anxious, kept abreast of the boat, his eyes never off his master.
(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)
In the train I had written my diary so far, and simply read it off to them as the best means of letting them get abreast of my own information; when I had finished Van Helsing said:—This has been a great day's work, friend Jonathan.
(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)
Lady Loring, glancing up, saw in the fading light three companions walking abreast down the road, all gray with dust, and stained with travel, yet chattering merrily between themselves.
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
The road narrowed down at the point, so that it was obvious that the two carriages abreast could not possibly get over.
(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Wolf Larsen motioned Louis to keep off slightly, and we dashed abreast of the boat, not a score of feet to windward.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
Then our driver, whose wide linen drawers covered the whole front of the box-seat—gotza they call them—cracked his big whip over his four small horses, which ran abreast, and we set off on our journey.
(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)
