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Meaning & use

stay abreast

phrase·Advanced

Last updated

UK/ˌsteɪ əˈbrest/
US/ˌsteɪ əˈbrest/

Meaning

  1. phraseidiomformal

    To keep up to date with the latest information, news, or developments in a subject.

    Grammar: Used with 'of' before the thing you are following: stay abreast of the news. It does not take a direct object.

    Patterns

    • stay abreast of something
    • keep abreast of something
    • stay abreast with something

    As a doctor, she reads medical journals to stay abreast of new treatments.

    It is hard to stay abreast of all the changes in technology.

    The manager asked us to stay abreast of what our competitors are doing.

Common combinations

stay abreast of the news
I check my phone every morning to stay abreast of the news.
stay abreast of developments
Scientists must stay abreast of developments in their field.
stay abreast of changes
The company offers training so staff can stay abreast of changes in the law.
keep abreast of
She works hard to keep abreast of current research.
stay abreast with
He struggled to stay abreast with the fast pace of the course.

Synonyms and how they differ

keep up with
More common and less formal than 'stay abreast'; it can also mean to move at the same speed as someone.
keep pace with
Similar meaning, but often used for speed or progress rather than information.
stay informed
Focuses on having the facts, not necessarily following changes continuously.

Opposites

fall behindlose track

Word family

abreast adverb
Side by side and facing the same way; also used in 'keep abreast'.

Commonly confused: stay abreast or abreast?

stay abreast vs abreast

As a single word, 'abreast' means side by side (e.g., they walked abreast). 'Stay abreast' is a phrase meaning to keep up with information.

Practice

Complete the sentence: 'Good teachers try to stay abreast ____ new teaching methods.'

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