Have you ever wondered about the abreast meaning and how to use this word correctly? Whether you’re a student preparing for exams, someone learning English as a second language, or simply curious about expanding your vocabulary, understanding the word “abreast” is essential for effective communication.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about the abreast meaning in English and its translations in various Indian languages. By the end of this article, you’ll be confident in using this word in both written and spoken English! 💪
What Does “Abreast” Mean? Understanding the Basic Definition 🤔
The word “abreast” is an adverb that has two primary meanings:
1. Side by Side (Physical Position) 👥 When people or objects are positioned next to each other in a line, they are said to be “abreast.” This is the most common physical meaning of the word.
Example: “The soldiers marched abreast down the parade ground.”
2. Up to Date (Knowledge/Information) 📰 When someone stays informed about current events, developments, or changes in a particular field, they keep “abreast” of the situation.
Example: “As a doctor, she must stay abreast of the latest medical research.”
The abreast meaning in English essentially revolves around these two core concepts: positioning and staying informed. Let’s dive deeper into each usage to help you master this versatile word! 🎯
Abreast Meaning in Different Indian Languages 🌏
Understanding the Abreast Meaning in various regional languages can help native speakers better grasp the concept. Here are the translations:
Abreast Meaning in Hindi 🇮🇳
Hindi Translation: “साथ-साथ” (saath-saath) or “बराबर” (barabar)
- Physical meaning: “कंधे से कंधा मिलाकर” (kandhe se kandha milaakar)
- Knowledge meaning: “अद्यतन रहना” (adyatan rehna)
Example in Hindi: “वे दोनों साथ-साथ चल रहे थे।” (They both were walking abreast.)
Abreast Meaning in Marathi 🏛️
Marathi Translation: “शेजारी शेजारी” (shejari shejari) or “समांतर” (samantar) Example: “ते दोघे शेजारी शेजारी चालत होते।”
Abreast Meaning in Tamil 🌺
Tamil Translation: “அருகருகே” (arukaaruke) or “பக்கத்தில்” (pakkaththil) Example: “அவர்கள் இருவரும் அருகருகே நடந்தார்கள்।”
Abreast Meaning in Telugu 🎭
Telugu Translation: “ప్రక్కప్రక్కన” (prakkaprakkanaa) or “సమాంతరంగా” (samaantharangaa) Example: “వారు ఇద్దరూ ప్రక్కప్రక్కన నడిచారు।”
Abreast Meaning in Malayalam 🥥
Malayalam Translation: “അടുത്തടുത്ത്” (aduththadutht) or “സമാന്തരമായി” (samaantharamaayi)
Abreast Meaning in Bengali 🐟
Bengali Translation: “পাশাপাশি” (pashapashi) or “সমান্তরালে” (samaantharale) Example: “তারা দুজনে পাশাপাশি হাঁটছিল।”
Common Usage and Practical Examples 📝
Physical Positioning Examples
Understanding how to use “abreast” for physical positioning is crucial for descriptive writing and everyday conversation:
Military Context: 🪖
- “The cavalry rode four abreast across the battlefield.”
- “The honor guard stood abreast during the ceremony.”
Sports Context: ⚽
- “The runners came abreast as they approached the finish line.”
- “The swimmers were swimming abreast in adjacent lanes.”
Everyday Situations: 🚶♂️
- “The friends walked abreast down the narrow street.”
- “Please arrange the chairs three abreast for the meeting.”
Staying Informed Examples
The informational usage of “abreast” is particularly important in professional and academic contexts:
Professional Development: 💼
- “Good managers stay abreast of industry trends.”
- “To succeed in technology, you must keep abreast of rapid changes.”
Academic Context: 🎓
- “Students should stay abreast of current affairs for their exams.”
- “Researchers need to keep abreast of the latest publications in their field.”
News and Current Events: 📺
- “She reads newspapers daily to stay abreast of world events.”
- “Social media helps people keep abreast of breaking news.”
Synonyms and Related Words 🔄
To enrich your vocabulary and avoid repetition, here are some excellent synonyms for “abreast”:
For Physical Positioning:
- Side by side
- Alongside
- Adjacent
- Parallel
- Next to each other
- In line with
For Staying Informed:
- Up to date
- Current
- Informed
- Updated
- In touch with
- Well-versed in
- Knowledgeable about
Example Sentences with Synonyms:
- Instead of: “They walked abreast.”
- You can say: “They walked side by side” or “They walked alongside each other.”
- Instead of: “Stay abreast of the news.”
- You can say: “Stay up to date with the news” or “Keep yourself informed about current events.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid ❌
When learning the abreast meaning, students often make these common errors:
Mistake 1: Confusing “Abreast” with “Abroad” 🌍
- Wrong: “I want to study abreast.”
- Correct: “I want to study abroad.”
- Remember: “Abreast” = side by side or informed; “Abroad” = in foreign countries
Mistake 2: Incorrect Preposition Usage 📍
- Wrong: “Keep abreast from the news.”
- Correct: “Keep abreast of the news.”
- Remember: Always use “abreast OF” when talking about staying informed
Mistake 3: Using “Abreast” as a Noun 📚
- Wrong: “The abreast of the situation is important.”
- Correct: “Staying abreast of the situation is important.”
- Remember: “Abreast” is an adverb, not a noun
Mistake 4: Mixing Up Physical and Informational Meanings 🤷♂️
- Context matters: Make sure your usage matches the intended meaning
- Physical: “The cars drove abreast on the highway.”
- Informational: “The manager kept abreast of company policies.”
Tips for Remembering Abreast Meaning 💡
Here are some memory tricks to help you remember the abreast meaning:
Visual Memory Trick 1: 👥
Think of “A-BREAST” as “A-BESIDE” – both start with ‘A’ and relate to being next to something.
Visual Memory Trick 2: 📚
For the informational meaning, remember: “Abreast = A-BEST” – staying abreast means staying at your best level of knowledge.
Practice Technique: 📝
Write five sentences using “abreast” in different contexts every day for a week. This repetition will help cement the word in your vocabulary.
Association Method: 🧠
- Physical meaning: Picture two people walking breast to breast (side by side)
- Informational meaning: Think of keeping your knowledge abreast (at the same level) as current events
Conclusion:
Understanding the abreast meaning opens up new possibilities for expressing yourself clearly and precisely in English. Whether you’re describing physical positioning or talking about staying informed, this versatile word adds sophistication to your vocabulary.
Remember the key points:
- Physical meaning: Side by side, parallel positioning
- Informational meaning: Staying up to date and informed
- Common phrase: “Keep abreast of” (stay informed about)
- Preposition: Always use “abreast OF” for the informational meaning
For students and learners, mastering words like “abreast” is essential for academic success and professional communication. The abreast meaning in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Bengali, and Marathi translations provided in this guide will help native speakers of these languages better understand and use the word correctly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: What is the exact abreast meaning in simple words?
A: Abreast means either “side by side” (physical position) or “staying up to date” (keeping informed). For example: “They walked abreast” (side by side) or “Stay abreast of current news” (stay informed).
Q2: How do you pronounce “abreast” correctly?
A: Abreast is pronounced as “uh-BREST” with emphasis on the second syllable. The ‘a’ sounds like ‘uh’ and ‘breast’ rhymes with ‘best’. 🗣️
Q3: What’s the difference between “abreast” and “ahead”?
A: “Abreast” means side by side or level with something, while “ahead” means in front of or before something. Example: “We walked abreast” vs “He walked ahead of us.”
Q4: Can I use “abreast with” instead of “abreast of”?
A: No, the correct preposition is “abreast OF” when talking about staying informed. “Abreast with” is grammatically incorrect. Always say “keep abreast of the news.” ✅
Q5: What is the abreast meaning in Hindi with examples?
A: In Hindi, abreast means “साथ-साथ” (saath-saath) or “बराबर” (barabar). Example: “वे दोनों साथ-साथ चल रहे थे” (They both were walking abreast).
📖 Want to boost your vocabulary further? Check out our guide on INHERENT Meaning for more powerful words! 💥
🌐 Still curious about the word “abreast”? click here…Abreast Meaning