parallel

1 of 4

adjective

par·​al·​lel ˈper-ə-ˌlel 

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 parallel …

—Harold 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 climb …

—Oscar 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

b

: similarity, analogue

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

see also:

in parallel

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

The sidewalk runs parallel to/with the street.

Synonyms of parallel

Adjective

• similar
• analogous
• comparable
• like
• alike
• such

Noun

• similarity
• resemblance

Verb

• match

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

Adjective

If this didn't make neutron stars extreme enough, in the case of pulsars, these dead stars blast out twin parallel beams of radio wave radiation from their poles. —Robert Lea, Space.com, 21 Feb. 2026

So a lot of the things that are happening are running very parallel to what happened in the Philippines during the Marcos regime. —Chris Willman, Variety, 21 Feb. 2026

Noun

In parallel with these initiatives, the hotel has been working on transforming its dry-cleaning process with advanced, more eco-friendly technology favoured by high-end laundries. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Feb. 2026

The parallel isn’t a coincidence, according to Jones. —Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 22 Feb. 2026

Verb

The fracturing of the television audience parallels the schisms in America’s political culture, with viewers and voters increasingly sheltering in partisan echo chambers. —Karrin Vasby Anderson, Washington Post, 10 Feb. 2026

Today, long segments of many bus lines essentially parallel the subway lines below. —Jonathan Cohn, New York Daily News, 7 Feb. 2026

Adverb

Deaths, personal injury and extensive property damage are almost certain to spur legal battles in the coming months and years, often running parallel to the ongoing NTSB investigation. —Connor Giffin, Louisville Courier Journal, 6 Nov. 2025

On the forecast track, the center of the cyclone is expected to move parallel to the southwestern coast of Mexico through Friday and then approach southern Baja California Sur over the weekend. —Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025

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

Phrases Containing parallel

• in parallel
• massively parallel
• no parallel
• parallel bars
• parallel evolution
• parallel park
• parallel-veined
• sub-parallel
• uneven parallel bars
• without parallel

Rhymes for parallel

• bagatelle
• caravel
• carousel
• carrousel
• citadel
• clientele
• commonweal
• decibel
• demoiselle
• fontanelle
• infidel
• isabel

Kids Definition

parallel

1 of 4 adjective

par·​al·​lel ˈpar-ə-ˌlel 

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

b

: similarity sense 1, likeness

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