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Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
abreast
adverb
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ VERB
keep
▪ Many growers may feel overwhelmed as they struggle to keep abreast of potentially helpful developments.
▪ The trouble was that the purchasing power of the workers did not keep abreast of what they produced.
▪ The parents were both well-educated and kept abreast of good parenting practices.
▪ They must incur debt if they are to keep abreast.
stay
▪ One way to stay abreast of the legal fees is to ask for monthly billings.
▪ Once in their job, industrial production managers must stay abreast of new production technologies and management practices.
▪ In this way, hip Benetton stays abreast of the unpredictable storms of fashion.
▪ These programs help students, estimators-in-training, and experienced estimators stay abreast of changes affecting the profession.
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
▪ Four women, walking two abreast, approached, their shoes loud on the wooden walkway.
▪ He had been under the impression they were still abreast of Washington.
▪ He strove to come abreast of his more favored contemporary; he was deeply discontented if he failed.
▪ Many growers may feel overwhelmed as they struggle to keep abreast of potentially helpful developments.
▪ My father called us frequently from Tokyo to keep us abreast of the legal work, which sounded complicated to me.
▪ One way to stay abreast of the legal fees is to ask for monthly billings.
▪ Store owners kept each other abreast of these unfortunate incidents and warned each other.
▪ That way you can keep clients and colleagues abreast of how and when they can reach you.
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Abreast

Abreast \A*breast"\, adv. [Pref. a- + breast.]

  1. Side by side, with breasts in a line; as, ``Two men could hardly walk abreast.''
    --Macaulay.

  2. (Naut.) Side by side; also, opposite; over against; on a line with the vessel's beam; -- with of.

  3. Up to a certain level or line; equally advanced; as, to keep abreast of [or with] the present state of science.

  4. At the same time; simultaneously. [Obs.]

    Abreast therewith began a convocation.
    --Fuller.

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
abreast

mid-15c., on brest, from a- (1) + breast (n.); the notion is of "with breasts in line." To keep abreast in figurative sense of "stay up-to-date" is from 1650s.

Wiktionary
abreast

a. 1 Side by side, facing forward. (First attested from around (1350 to 1470.))(R:SOED5: page=8) 2 (context figurative English) Alongside; parallel to. (First attested in the mid 17th century.) 3 Informed, well-informed, familiar, acquainted. (First attested in the mid 17th century.) 4 Up to a certain level or line; equally advanced; as, to keep '''abreast''' of [or with] the present state of science. (First attested in the mid 17th century.) 5 (context nautical English) Side by side; also, opposite; over against; on a line with the vessel's beam. (First attested in the late 17th century.) adv. 1 Side by side, facing forward. (First attested from around (1350 to 1470.))(R:SOED5: page=8) 2 (context figurative English) Alongside; parallel to. (First attested in the mid 17th century.) 3 Informed, well-informed, familiar, acquainted. (First attested in the mid 17th century.) 4 Up to a certain level or line; equally advanced; as, to keep '''abreast''' of [or with] the present state of science. (First attested in the mid 17th century.) 5 (context nautical English) Side by side; also, opposite; over against; on a line with the vessel's beam. (First attested in the late 17th century.) 6 (context obsolete English): At the same time; simultaneously prep. Abreast of; alongside.(R:MW3 1976: page=5)

WordNet
abreast

adv. alongside each other, facing on the same direction

Usage examples of "abreast".

On the 17th of April the Essex came in sight of Chatham Island, one of the largest, and remained cruising in the neighborhood of the group till the beginning of June, when want of water compelled her to go to Tumbez, a port on the continent just abreast of the Galapagos.

Except for the annoyance of the bombs, the gunners of the forts had it much their own way until the broadsides of the Pensacola, which showed eleven heavy guns on either side, drew up abreast of them.

Two officers of the United States navy were walking abreast, unguarded and alone, not looking to the right or left, never frowning, never flinching, while the mob screamed in their ears, shook cocked pistols in their faces, cursed, crowded, and gnashed upon them.

Not only was it exceptionally lofty, and on one flank of that series of bluffs which has before been mentioned as constituting the line upon which the Confederate grip of the stream was based, but the tortuous character of the channel gave particular facilities for an enfilading fire on vessels both before and after they came abreast the works.

Memphis had pursued its winding course through an alluvial country, made when abreast of Vicksburg a sharp turn to the northeast, as though determined to reach the bluffs but four miles distant.

Memphis from New Orleans, even the narrow strip on either side swept by their cannon was safe at any point only while they were abreast it.

Between the two lies the main ship channel, varying in width from seven hundred and fifty yards, three miles outside, to two thousand, or about a sea mile, abreast Fort Morgan.

The guns of those ships, being disposed along the sides, were for the most part able to bear only upon an enemy abreast of them, with a small additional angle of train toward ahead or astern.

To support these and concentrate from the earliest moment as effective a fire as possible upon the works, Farragut brought his ironclads inside of the wooden vessels, and abreast the four leaders of that column.

Winnebago and Chickasaw, were drawing up abreast of the three ships thus massed together.

Five minutes later the Lackawanna, Captain Marchand, going at full speed, delivered her blow also at right angles on the port side, abreast the after end of the armored superstructure.

But against the defects of this quality he was guarded by the openness of mind which results from the effort to improve and to keep abreast of the times in which one lives.

Commodore had reformed the squadron into a single line abreast, except for the pair detached ahead.

Not knowing exactly what excuse to make, but hoping for something to turn up, the mullah took a lantern and followed him out, taking the lead as they passed through the gap in the fence and drew abreast of the mosque portico.

And as for buying this tub, he never had a hope in hell of keeping abreast of the likes of Bartholomew, and the bastard knew it when he sold it.