abaft 1 of 2

as in aft
near, toward, or in the stern of a ship or the tail of an aircraft the lookout in the crow's nest warned that there was an enemy frigate abaft and bearing down hard on their ship

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

abaft

2 of 2

preposition

as in behind
at, to, or toward the rear of a school of porpoises swam abaft the fishing boat

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for abaft
Adverb
  • Also of note is the Dusk Bar, which sits aft on Deck 10 and is stocked with interesting spirits.
    David Swanson, Travel + Leisure, 27 May 2024
  • Open exterior decks forward and aft allow for a steady sea breeze, as the owner—who was last aboard his yacht in the summer of 2021—used to regularly enjoy.
    Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 10 Feb. 2023
Preposition
  • Born to 22-year-old mother Kibibbi and 25-year-old father Forrest, the calf spent the last month bonding with his mom behind the scenes.
    Nicholas Rice, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Warner made a surprise appearance in pregame warmups, his ankle propped up on a scooter behind the end zone.
    Cam Inman, Mercury News, 20 Oct. 2025
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.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Abaft.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abaft. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on abaft

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!