astern
word
Definition
Behind or toward the back part of a ship or boat. Also used for things moving backward on a vessel.
Usage & Nuances
Nautical and technical term; rarely used outside sailing or boating contexts. Frequently paired with verbs like 'move', 'go', 'fall', and used in phrases like 'dead astern' (directly behind). Not interchangeable with 'astern' as an adjective; it's mainly used as an adverb or preposition.
Spanish: a popaPortuguese (BR): à ré - a popaPortuguese (PT): à ré - a popaChinese (Simplified): 在船尾 - 在后方Chinese (Traditional): 在船尾 - 在後方Hindi: जहाज़ की पिछली ओरArabic: في المؤخرة (الخلفية)Bengali: পিছনে (জাহাজের) - পশ্চাদ্দেশেRussian: кормой - позади (судна)Japanese: 船尾に - 後方に (船)Vietnamese: ở phía sau (tàu) - ở đằng láiKorean: 선미에 - 뒤쪽에 (배의)Turkish: kıçta - geminin arkasındaUrdu: پیچھے (جہاز کے)Indonesian: di belakang (kapal) - di buritan
Example Sentences
The crew spotted dolphins swimming astern as we left the harbor.
natural
If you fall astern during a race, it’s hard to catch up.
natural
There’s another vessel dead astern of us—keep an eye out!
natural
The lifeboat was drifting astern of the ship.
basic
The captain ordered the engines to go astern.
basic
A boat was following close astern.
basic