1
: in a line matching the length or direction of
walking along the road
also
: at a point or points on
a house along the river
2
: in the course of
made stops along the way
3
: in accordance with : in
a new agreement along the lines of the first
2
: from one to another
word was passed along
3
a
: in company : as a companion
brought his wife along
—often used with withwalked to school along with her friends
b
: in association
—used with with
work along with colleagues
4
a
: sometime within a specified or implied extent of time
—usually used with about
along about July 17
b
: at or to an advanced point
plans are far along
5
: in addition : also
—usually used with with
a bill came along with the package
6
: at hand : as a necessary or useful item
brought an extra one along
had his gun along
7
: on hand : there
tell him I'll be along to see him
Synonyms
Examples of along in a Sentence
Preposition
We walked along the beach.
The chairs were lined up along the wall.
The ship sailed along the coast.
We drove to Boston and we stopped along the way for lunch.
Adverb
We walked along beside the road.
I was just walking along, minding my own business.
The police told the people in the crowd to move along.
We looked at the houses as we drove along.
Plans for a new stadium are already pretty far along.
See More
Recent Examples on the Web
David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2023
Mixed-nationality families live on both sides of the frontier, and hundreds of millions of dollars of formal and informal business takes place along the border each year.
—Widlore Mérancourt, BostonGlobe.com, 15 Sep. 2023
Researchers noted the number is likely higher now, given the record high levels of migrant apprehensions reported along the U.S.-Mexico border in 2021 and 2022.
—Camilo Montoya-Galvez, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2023
The storm surge and tide will cause flooding along the coast.
—Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 15 Sep. 2023
Against the Giants, Parsons played 40 defensive snaps, with 33 along the defensive line and seven at linebacker.
—Calvin Watkins, Dallas News, 15 Sep. 2023
Russia claimed to have repelled several Ukrainian attacks along the front lines, including in Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk.
—Adam Taylor, Washington Post, 15 Sep. 2023
The latest forecast shows Lee's strongest winds staying offshore, so any notable wind impacts will be confined to areas right along the coast.
—Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 14 Sep. 2023
They were also reported along the coast where Idalia blew by and made landfall, including Lee, Sarasota, Levy, Taylor and Madison counties.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY, 4 Sep. 2023
Fran Golden, Travel + Leisure, 15 Sep. 2023
Not even the pans to the crowd—including Offset on his best behavior and Taylor Swift and Ice Spice bobbing along—could save it.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 13 Sep. 2023
Slide the tortilla onto a plate, using the spatula to nudge it along if needed.
—Katie Button, Bon Appétit, 12 Sep. 2023
The company motored along for decades, but its struggles began to grow in this century, with workers blaming mismanagement and a failure to invest in brands to keep up with changing tastes.
—Michelle Chapman, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2023
Via a school curriculum that used radio transmissions and satellite tracking, thousands of students in Boston, Chicago, and elsewhere followed along as Mr. Pinkney’s global voyage unfolded more than three decades ago.
—Bryan Marquard, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Sep. 2023
Voyager 1 is speeding along at a solid 38,000 miles per hour.
—Popular Mechanics, 8 Sep. 2023
To help move things along, talk to your doctor about stool softeners.
—Devan McGuinness, Parents, 3 Sep. 2023
Listen to the words and read along, and if that does not convince you, then nothing will.
—Ben Flanagan | Bflanagan@al.com, al, 2 Sep. 2023
See More
Preposition
The commission, on a 6-0 vote, backed Metro’s request for new electronic signs outside subway stations, along commercial boulevards and next to freeway interchanges across the city.
—David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2023
Mixed-nationality families live on both sides of the frontier, and hundreds of millions of dollars of formal and informal business takes place along the border each year.
—Widlore Mérancourt, BostonGlobe.com, 15 Sep. 2023
Researchers noted the number is likely higher now, given the record high levels of migrant apprehensions reported along the U.S.-Mexico border in 2021 and 2022.
—Camilo Montoya-Galvez, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2023
The storm surge and tide will cause flooding along the coast.
—Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 15 Sep. 2023
Against the Giants, Parsons played 40 defensive snaps, with 33 along the defensive line and seven at linebacker.
—Calvin Watkins, Dallas News, 15 Sep. 2023
Russia claimed to have repelled several Ukrainian attacks along the front lines, including in Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk.
—Adam Taylor, Washington Post, 15 Sep. 2023
The latest forecast shows Lee's strongest winds staying offshore, so any notable wind impacts will be confined to areas right along the coast.
—Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 14 Sep. 2023
They were also reported along the coast where Idalia blew by and made landfall, including Lee, Sarasota, Levy, Taylor and Madison counties.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY, 4 Sep. 2023
Adverb
Quark took notice and signed a deal to bring members along on select sailings; Igapall is hoping to attract chefs from Nunavut, Canada, to join them in the ship’s galley as a way to encourage more communication between the Inuit people of Greenland and Canada.
—Fran Golden, Travel + Leisure, 15 Sep. 2023
Not even the pans to the crowd—including Offset on his best behavior and Taylor Swift and Ice Spice bobbing along—could save it.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 13 Sep. 2023
Slide the tortilla onto a plate, using the spatula to nudge it along if needed.
—Katie Button, Bon Appétit, 12 Sep. 2023
The company motored along for decades, but its struggles began to grow in this century, with workers blaming mismanagement and a failure to invest in brands to keep up with changing tastes.
—Michelle Chapman, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2023
Via a school curriculum that used radio transmissions and satellite tracking, thousands of students in Boston, Chicago, and elsewhere followed along as Mr. Pinkney’s global voyage unfolded more than three decades ago.
—Bryan Marquard, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Sep. 2023
Voyager 1 is speeding along at a solid 38,000 miles per hour.
—Popular Mechanics, 8 Sep. 2023
To help move things along, talk to your doctor about stool softeners.
—Devan McGuinness, Parents, 3 Sep. 2023
Listen to the words and read along, and if that does not convince you, then nothing will.
—Ben Flanagan | Bflanagan@al.com, al, 2 Sep. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'along.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Preposition
Middle English, from Old English andlang, from and- against + lang long — more at ante-
First Known Use
Preposition
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Adverb
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of along was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing along
Articles Related to along
Dictionary Entries Near along
Cite this Entry
“Along.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/along. Accessed 28 Sep. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
along
1 of 2 preposition1
: in a line matching the length or direction of
walk along the beach
lined up along the wall
2
: at a point or points on
stopped along the way
3
: in accordance with
a new agreement along the lines of the first
along
2 of 2 adverb1
: onward entry 1, forward
move along
2
: as a companion or associate
brought my best friend along
3
: in addition : also
the bill came along with the package
4
: at or on hand
had a camera along
More from Merriam-Webster on along
Nglish: Translation of along for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of along for Arabic Speakers
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share