parallel

1 of 4

adjective

par·​al·​lel ˈper-ə-ˌlel How to pronounce parallel (audio)
ˈpa-rə-,
-ləl
1
a
: extending in the same direction, everywhere equidistant (see equidistant sense 1), and not meeting
parallel rows of trees
b
: everywhere equally distant
concentric spheres are parallel
2
a
: having parallel sides
a parallel reamer
b
: being or relating to an electrical circuit having a number of conductors (see conductor sense d(1)) in parallel (see parallel entry 2 sense 4b)
c
: arranged in parallel
a computer with four parallel processors
d
: relating to or being a connection in a computer system in which the bits of a byte are transmitted over separate channels at the same time
a parallel port
compare serial
3
a
: similar, analogous, or interdependent in tendency or development : exhibiting parallelism in form, function, or development
… the standing committee systems in the two Houses are reasonably parallelHarold Zink
parallel strikes on the railroads, in the gas and electricity services and in the metal and mining industries.Percy Winner
see also parallel evolution
b
: readily compared : companion
the marriage rate turned upward … the birth rate entered upon a parallel climbOscar Handlin
c
: having identical syntactical elements in corresponding positions
also : being such an element
d(1)
: having the same tonic
used of major and minor keys and scales
(2)
: keeping the same distance apart in musical pitch (see pitch entry 4 sense 4b(1))
4
: performed while keeping one's skis parallel
parallel turns

parallel

2 of 4

noun

1
a
: a parallel line, curve, or surface
b
: one of the imaginary circles on the surface of the earth paralleling the equator and marking the latitude
also : the corresponding line on a globe or map see latitude illustration
c
: a character ∥ used in printing especially as a reference mark
2
a
: something equal or similar in all essential particulars : counterpart
3
: a comparison to show resemblance
4
a
: the state of being physically parallel
b
: an arrangement of electrical devices in a circuit in which the same potential difference is applied to two or more resistances with each resistance being on a different branch of the circuit compare series
c
: an arrangement or state that permits several operations or tasks to be performed simultaneously rather than consecutively

parallel

3 of 4

verb

paralleled; paralleling; parallels

transitive verb

1
: to indicate analogy of : compare
2
a
: to show something equal to : match
b
: to correspond to
3
: to place so as to be parallel in direction with something
4
: to extend, run, or move in a direction parallel to

parallel

4 of 4

adverb

: in a parallel manner
Phrases
in parallel
: in a parallel arrangement
Choose the Right Synonym for parallel

similar, analogous, parallel mean closely resembling each other.

similar implies the possibility of being mistaken for each other.

all the houses in the development are similar

analogous applies to things belonging in essentially different categories but nevertheless having many similarities.

analogous political systems

parallel suggests a marked likeness in the development of two things.

the parallel careers of two movie stars

Examples of parallel in a Sentence

Adjective the parallel careers of the two movie stars These two sentences are parallel in structure. Notice the parallel development of the two technologies. Noun These myths have some striking parallels with myths found in cultures around the world. There are many parallels between the stories. Most of the United States is south of the 49th parallel. Verb Their test results parallel our own. Rising prices parallel increasing fuel costs. Spending is paralleled by an increase in the number of loans given. The highway parallels the river.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
With five games remaining on their schedule, the 4-8 Bears have begun to operate on parallel courses. Phil Rogers, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024 The building code stipulates that stair handrails must be parallel with the line created by the front nosing of the steps. Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 30 Nov. 2024
Noun
Probably the most direct parallel is the events of Maidan in Ukraine. Lex Harvey, CNN, 2 Dec. 2024 The parallel with Wise (formerly TransferWise) is instructive – while operating in the adjacent cross-border payments space, Wise spent over a decade building direct relationships with central banks and financial institutions. Boaz Sobrado, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2024
Verb
Paintings appear with geometric lines superimposed upon them, and certain aspects of his explorations of light and anatomy are paralleled with familiar frescos. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Nov. 2024 That comment was two hours before Sunday’s win, a magnum opus that nobody, including Jokic himself, had ever paralleled. Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 11 Nov. 2024
Adverb
Pull up parallel to the lead vehicle until your rear bumpers align. Robert Klose, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 July 2022 And while his career wouldn't quite live up to its early promise, if Saka's goes on to run parallel then few at the Emirates will be complaining. SI.com, 23 Sep. 2019 See all Example Sentences for parallel 

Word History

Etymology

Adjective, Noun, Verb, and Adverb

Latin parallelus, from Greek parallēlos, from para beside + allēlōn of one another, from allos … allos one … another, from allos other — more at else

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1550, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1551, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

circa 1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

1646, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of parallel was circa 1550

Dictionary Entries Near parallel

Cite this Entry

“Parallel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/parallel. Accessed 7 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

parallel

1 of 4 adjective
par·​al·​lel ˈpar-ə-ˌlel How to pronounce parallel (audio)
1
: lying or moving in the same direction but always the same distance apart
parallel lines
the train tracks are parallel
2
a
: being or relating to an electrical circuit having a number of conductors in parallel
b
: being or relating to a connection in a computer system in which the bits of a byte are transmitted over separate wires at the same time
3
: like entry 3, similar
parallel situations

parallel

2 of 4 noun
1
: a parallel line, curve, or surface
2
a
: one of the imaginary circles on the surface of the earth parallel to the equator that mark latitude
b
: a corresponding line on a globe or map
3
a
: counterpart sense 1, equal
a victory without parallel
c
: a tracing of similarity
draw a parallel between two periods of history
4
: an arrangement of electrical devices in a circuit in which the same potential difference is applied to two or more resistances with each resistance on a parallel branch

parallel

3 of 4 verb
1
: to be like or equal to
2
: to lie, run, or move in a direction parallel to
the highway parallels the river

parallel

4 of 4 adverb
: in a parallel manner
often used with with or to

More from Merriam-Webster on parallel

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