Meaning & use
abaft the beam
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Meaning
phrasefixed phrasetechnical
In a position behind a line drawn across a ship at its widest point, toward the rear.
Grammar: Used as an adverbial phrase after verbs like 'be', 'lie', 'come', or 'sail': 'The boat was abaft the beam.'
Patterns
- be abaft the beam
- lie abaft the beam
- come abaft the beam
The lighthouse appeared abaft the beam, so the captain adjusted course.
The wind was coming from abaft the beam, making for a smooth sail.
From the deck, the other ship was abaft the beam and closing slowly.
Common combinations
- abaft the beam
- The buoy was abaft the beam as we passed.
- wind abaft the beam
- With the wind abaft the beam, the crew relaxed.
- come abaft the beam
- The patrol boat came abaft the beam and signaled us to stop.
- lie abaft the beam
- The island lay abaft the beam at sunset.
Synonyms and how they differ
- aft of the beam
- This is a more common way to say the same thing; 'abaft' is the older, more formal term.
- behind the beam
- Less technical and clearer to non-sailors, but not standard in navigation.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: abaft the beam or abaft?
abaft the beam vs abaft
On its own, 'abaft' means 'behind' in a general nautical sense; 'abaft the beam' is a specific position relative to the widest point.
Practice
On a ship, what does 'abaft the beam' describe?
Choose one answer.
'Abaft the beam' means behind the line of the ship's widest point, toward the rear. 'Directly in front' would be 'forward of the beam'; left side is 'port'; above the deck is 'aloft'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “abaft the beam”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.