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Astern Definition & Meaning

astern
adverb
  1. stern foremost or backward; "the steamer went astern at half speed"
  2. at or near or toward the stern of a ship or tail of an airplane; "stow the luggage aft"; "ships with square sails sail fairly efficiently with the wind abaft"; "the captain looked astern to see what the fuss was about"
  3. (of a ship or an airplane) behind; "we dropped her astern on the end of a seven-inch manilla, and she laid comfortably on the ebb tide"

Usage tips for "astern"

Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "astern" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for astern to find words that pair well.

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Frequently asked questions

What does astern mean?
stern foremost or backward; "the steamer went astern at half speed" at or near or toward the stern of a ship or tail of an airplane; "stow the luggage aft"; "ships with square sails sail fairly efficiently with the wind abaft"; "the captain looked astern to see what the fuss was about" (of a ship or an airplane) behind; "we dropped her astern on the end of a seven-inch manilla, and she laid comfortably on the ebb tide"
What part of speech is astern?
Astern is an adverb.
How many definitions does astern have?
Astern has 3 definitions across 1 part of speech (adverb).

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