abeam
/əˈbim/adverb, adjective, preposition
abeam is spelled A-B-E-A-M: 5 letters and 2 syllables. It appears about once in every 18 million words in written English, the 127,184th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adverb, abeam means “On the beam; at a right angle to the centerline or keel of a vessel or aircraft; being at a bearing approximately 90° or 270° relative” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in abeam?
| Letters | 5: A-B-E-A-M |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 18 million words; the 127,184th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Rhymes with | |
| Same letters |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is abeam?
Abeam appears about once in every 18 million words in written English, the 127,184th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce abeam?
- UK /əˈbiːm/
- US /əˈbim/
Abeam has 2 syllables (counted from the pronunciation).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-abeam.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with abeam?
7 words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as abeam from its last stressed vowel (/im/):
Spelled with the same letters in another order: ameba.
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of abeam
- more abeam comparative
- most abeam superlative
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does abeam mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adverb
- 1
On the beam; at a right angle to the centerline or keel of a vessel or aircraft; being at a bearing approximately 90° or 270° relative.
- 2
Alongside or abreast; opposite the center of the side of the ship or aircraft.
adjective
- 1
Alongside or abreast; opposite the center of the side of the ship or aircraft.
The island was directly abeam of us.
- 2
Beaming, shining (especially with reference to a person's face or eyes).
preposition
- 1
Alongside.
She came abeam the crippled ship.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Abeam in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense on the beam:
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| German | Querab |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does abeam come from?
From a- (“in the direction of”) + beam (“keel”).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).