keep abreast

K

keep abreast (metaphor)
/kiːp əˈbrɛst/

Variants

• keep abreast of
• keep abreast with

Meanings

• Stay up-to-date with the latest information or developments.
• Remain closely informed or aware of ongoing changes.
• Move or progress at the same level or pace as someone or something.
• In other words, it means to stay informed about the most recent facts, changes, and developments regarding a subject or situation.
• And to remain beside or at the same level as something or someone while moving forward.

Synonyms

• stay informed
• stay updated
• keep pace
  keep in the loop
• be aware of
• be familiar with

Example Sentences

1. As a journalist, it’s crucial to keep abreast of current events and political developments.
2. I try to keep abreast of the latest technologies by reading tech blogs and magazines.
3. The runner struggled to keep abreast with the leader, but eventually, they fell behind.
4. She made sure to keep abreast of the project’s progress by attending all the team meetings.
5. The runner struggled to keep abreast with the leader, but eventually, they fell behind.

Origin and History

Origin and History

Etymology and Early Usage

The expression keep abreast derives from the adjective abreast, which originated in Middle English as a compound of the prefix a- (meaning “on” or “in”) and breast. In its earliest sense, abreast described a physical position in which individuals or objects were “side by side” or “level with one another at the chest.” This literal spatial meaning, attested in English from the 1500s, later expanded to metaphorical uses relating to equality, alignment, and coordination.

Maritime and Navigational Influence

One widely supported theory suggests that the idiomatic meaning developed from naval terminology. In sailing, vessels that moved “abreast” maintained their positions level with each other’s bows, allowing for coordinated movement and communication. The discipline required to “keep abreast” in such circumstances provided a natural metaphor for maintaining pace with developments or information.

Military Formation Theory

Another plausible origin lies in military drill and parade formations. Soldiers marching “abreast” were expected to remain aligned within the rank, neither advancing ahead nor falling behind. In this context, “keep abreast” meant to preserve one’s position within a moving formation, a concept easily adapted to non-physical domains such as keeping pace with progress, trends, or events.

Development Through News and Information Culture

A further contributing factor appears to be the rise of printed newspapers and periodicals from the seventeenth century onward. As public literacy and access to information expanded, the figurative sense of “keep abreast” as “stay up-to-date” gained prominence. The idiom increasingly referred to an individual’s ability to remain informed on current affairs, trade developments, or political matters.

Persistence of Literal and Figurative Meanings

While the figurative sense dominates modern usage, the literal meaning — “to remain side by side” — has persisted, especially in descriptive or narrative contexts such as athletics, travel, and navigation. This duality suggests that the idiomatic sense evolved gradually, drawing on both physical imagery and societal needs for timely awareness.

Country of Origin

Documentary evidence indicates that the expression originated in England, where both the literal and figurative uses of abreast were well established before the idiomatic construction keep abreast (of) became widespread.

Important