- closer to the stern than to another place on a vessel
- behind; aft of
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
a•baft
(ə baft′, ə bäft′),USA pronunciation [Naut.]
prep.
adv.
prep.
- Nautical, Naval Termsto the rear of;
aft of:the fife rail abaft the mainmast.
adv.
- Nautical, Naval Termsin the direction of the stern;
astern;
aft.
- Middle English on baft, abaft, equivalent. to a-1 and on on + baft, Old English bæftan contraction of be + æftan. See by, aft 1225–75
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
abaft /əˈbɑːft/ adv , adj (postpositive)
'abaft' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
