astern

[ uh-sturn ]
See synonyms for astern on Thesaurus.com
adverb
  1. in a position behind a specified vessel or aircraft: The cutter was following close astern.

  2. in a backward direction: The steamer went astern at half speed.

Origin of astern

1
First recorded in 1620–30; a-1 + stern2

Words Nearby astern

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use astern in a sentence

  • Boat after boat came up and made fast astern of the dandy vessel, and soon the decks were crowded with merry groups.

    The Chequers | James Runciman
  • His boat was astern, so he jumped over the counter and sculled himself straight to the Mission smack.

    The Chequers | James Runciman
  • The patrol-ship was on station; she was lost far astern before she could gather speed for pursuit.

  • He had stood thus for some time, when turning round, and looking astern, the cutter was no longer to be seen.

    Digby Heathcote | W.H.G. Kingston
  • Then a wave would come aboard astern, rolling in and nearly filling the cockpit.

    The Rival Campers | Ruel Perley Smith

British Dictionary definitions for astern

astern

/ (əˈstɜːn) /


adverb, adjective(postpositive) nautical
  1. at or towards the stern

  2. with the stern first: full speed astern!

  1. aft of the stern of a vessel

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012