abreast

[ uh-brest ]

adverb

1. side by side; beside each other in a line:

   They walked two abreast down the street.

2. equal to or alongside in progress, attainment, or awareness (usually followed by of or with ):

   to keep abreast of scientific developments; keeping abreast with the times.

abreast

/ əˈbrɛst /

adjective

1. alongside each other and facing in the same direction
2. foll byof or with up to date (with); fully conversant (with)

Word History and Origins

Origin of abreast¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; a- ¹ + breast

Example Sentences

What in the aggregate would have been a way of following the story, keeping abreast of events, doing my part as a well-informed citizen tipped over into addictive, unhealthy behavior.

From Los Angeles Times

They keep abreast of the cartel violence on the Mexico side of Sasabe.

From Los Angeles Times

As such, they spend most of their time staying abreast of local developments and gathering insights from sources in ways that won’t attract too much attention from their hosts.

From Los Angeles Times

They were really great and sort of kept me abreast on the casting process and would send me people's auditions.

From Salon

In addition, parents felt policymakers should stay abreast of emerging technologies to create or modify laws and regulations that protect children online.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• acquainted
• informed