abreast

adverb or adjective

1
: beside one another in line
columns of men five abreast
with seats two abreast on each side of the aisle
They drew abreast of [=alongside of] each other.
2
: up to a particular standard or level especially of knowledge of recent developments
tries to keep abreast of [=to stay informed about] the news

Examples of abreast in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Subscribe to the Eye on AI newsletter to stay abreast of how AI is shaping the future of business. Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2024 The military also had other ways of staying abreast of the situation. Alma Guillermoprieto, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024 Build a Collaborative Ecosystem: Engage with industry peers, academic institutions and technology partners to share knowledge, explore collaborative opportunities and stay abreast of best practices in AI implementation. Andrew Forbes, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 In this new era, staying abreast of AI advancements will not be a choice, but rather a fundamental requirement for organizations to remain competitive. Committee Of 200, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024 California’s legislative landscape is dynamic, and staying abreast of updates is essential for local governments to align policies with statewide initiatives. Yan Zhao, The Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2024 Setting up systems like text and email alerts from your bank can keep you abreast of all your financial activity. Jasmine Browley, Essence, 19 Jan. 2024 Being innovators will mean fine-tuning to the tastes of customers, and staying continually abreast of the latest NA products being introduced to the market, and a harder-to-quantify commitment to new frontiers. Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2024 Up-To-Date Technology In my experience, one of the most significant factors for being a leader in the med spa world is staying abreast of the latest technological advancements. Devin Haman, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'abreast.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English abrest, from a- a- entry 1 + brest breast entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of abreast was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near abreast

Cite this Entry

“Abreast.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abreast. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

abreast

adverb or adjective
1
: side by side with bodies in line
lined up three abreast
2
: up to a standard or level especially of knowledge
keep abreast of the times

More from Merriam-Webster on abreast

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