along

1 of 2

preposition

ə-ˈlȯŋ 

1

: in a line matching the length or direction of

walking along the road

also : at a point or points on

a house along the river

2

: in the course of

made stops along the way

3

: in accordance with : in

a new agreement along the lines of the first

along

2 of 2

adverb

1

: forward, on

move along

2

: from one to another

word was passed along

3

a

: in company : as a companion

brought his wife along

—often used with with

walked to school along with her friends

b

: in association

—used with with

work along with colleagues

4

a

: sometime within a specified or implied extent of time

—usually used with about

along about July 17

b

: at or to an advanced point

plans are far along

5

: in addition : also

—usually used with with

a bill came along with the package

6

: at hand : as a necessary or useful item

brought an extra one along

had his gun along

7

: on hand : there

tell him I'll be along to see him

Synonyms

Adverb

• ahead
• forth
• forward
• forwards
• on
• onward
• onwards

Examples of along in a Sentence

Preposition

We walked along the beach.

The chairs were lined up along the wall.

The ship sailed along the coast.

We drove to Boston and we stopped along the way for lunch.

Adverb

We walked along beside the road.

I was just walking along, minding my own business.

The police told the people in the crowd to move along.

We looked at the houses as we drove along.

Plans for a new stadium are already pretty far along.

Recent Examples on the Web

Preposition

In counties along the U.S. border, sheriffs receive funding, through a FEMA grant program called Operation Stonegarden, to purchase equipment such as snowmobiles and squad cars for use in conjunction with Border Patrol. —Jessica Pishko, The New Yorker, 2 Jan. 2025

Williams also said an investigation is underway on whether barricades along Bourbon Street were still up at the time of the attack. —Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 1 Jan. 2025

Adverb

Koepke’s straight-line speed at left wing could pull Frederic and Brazeau along. —Fluto Shinzawa, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024

Snowfall of 1 to 2 inches will be possible mainly along and south of the I-69 corridor. —Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 31 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Preposition

Middle English, from Old English andlang, from and- against + lang long — more at ante-

First Known Use

Preposition

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing along

• all along
• along about
• along for the ride
• along of
• along the line
• along the way
• along with
• came/went along for the ride
• come along
• get along
• go along
• go along with
• grind along
• happen along
• jog along
• mosey along
• move ahead/along
• muddle along
• play along
• poke along
• rub along
• run along
• scrape along
• sing-along
• string along
• string along with (someone or something)
• tag along
• trail (along) behind/after
• vote along party lines
• well/far along in years

Kids Definition

along

1 of 2 preposition

ə-ˈlȯŋ 

1

: in a line matching the length or direction of

walk along the beach

lined up along the wall

2

: at a point or points on

stopped along the way

3

: in accordance with

a new agreement along the lines of the first

along

2 of 2 adverb

1

: onward entry 1, forward

move along

2

: as a companion or associate

brought my best friend along

3

: in addition : also

the bill came along with the package

4

: at or on hand

had a camera along