The AI-powered English dictionary
comparative more abeam, superlative most abeam
(nautical, aircraft) On the beam; at a right angle to the centerline or keel of a vessel quotations examples
We were heading S.S.W., and had a steady breeze abeam and a quiet sea.
1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, “Chapter 10”, in Treasure Island, London, Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, part II (The Sea Cook), page 83
[…] waves striking the ship abeam pushed her always south of their new course, and rolled her, and filled her with water so that bailing must be ceaseless […]
1968, Ursula K. LeGuin, chapter 2, in A Wizard of Earthsea, Boston: Houghton Mifflin, published 2012, page 36
(nautical, aircraft) Alongside or abreast; opposite the center of the side of the ship or aircraft. examples
(nautical, aircraft) Alongside or abreast; opposite the center of the side of the ship or aircraft. quotations examples
The sound shifted its place markedly, but without coming nearer. It even grew a little more distant right abeam of the lighter, and then ceased again.
1904, Joseph Conrad, chapter 8, in Nostromo, New York: Harper, page 311
The attack on the abeam ship, Louisville, killed Commander Cruiser Division Four […]
2005, William Thomas Generous, Sweet Pea at War: A History of USS Portland, page 178
(nautical) Alongside. examples
not comparable
Beaming, shining (especially with reference to a person's face or eyes). quotations examples
[…] the hearts of the saints [will] be all attention and their faces all abeam for the consolation;
1876, William Davidson, Sermons on the Parables, Cincinnati: Western Tract Society, Sermon 1, p. 41
[…] the waiters fly about abeam with good will and on excellent terms with those they serve […]
1906, Miriam Michelson, chapter 9, in A Yellow Journalist,, New York: D. Appleton, page 199
[…] since he refused to be intimidated, stage two of their introduction consisted of Sheba sitting round in attitudes of beleaguered desperation while Seeley, his face abeam with adulation, sat determinedly beside her.
1970, Doreen Tovey, chapter 6, in The New Boy, Chicago: Summersdale, published 2006, page 55
When we met for another lunch […] he was all abeam with pride as he handed me a newly minted paperback reissue of Wodehouse […]
2011, Christopher Buckley, “Christopher Hitchens” in But Enough About You: Essays, New York: Simon & Schuster, 2014, p. 227