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

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abaft

2 of 2

preposition

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

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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
  • And for the Emmys 2025, Meg Stalter made the purpose behind her surprisingly low-key ensemble extremely clear.
    Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Throughout the night, a ticker with the donation amount was periodically superimposed under speeches and shown on a screen behind Bargatze.
    Rosa Escandon, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 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.

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Cite this Entry

“Abaft.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abaft. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

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