adj
Common
parallel
PA-ruh-lehl
Parallel (adj) means running alongside something else, always the same distance apart, never meeting. Example: “The two railway tracks run parallel to each other.”
adj
1
Running alongside something else, always the same distance apart, never meeting.
"The two railway tracks run parallel to each other."
"Draw two parallel lines across the page, about a centimetre apart."
"The cycle path runs parallel to the river for miles."
2
Similar or comparable in nature; happening at the same time.
"The two countries followed parallel paths of economic reform."
"The two scientists made parallel discoveries without knowing about each other."
"Their parallel careers meant they often faced the same problems."
noun
1
A similarity or comparison between two things.
"Historians draw a parallel between the two wars."
"There's an obvious parallel between his story and mine."
"There is a clear parallel between learning to swim and learning to drive."
verb
1
To be similar to or match something else.
"Her career parallels her mother's in many ways."
"His experience closely parallels what happened to many other new arrivals."
"The rise in sales parallels the growth of our online shop."
How to use parallel
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRunning side by side without meeting (literally), or closely similar/matching (figuratively).
Common pairings
draw a parallel
run parallel to
in parallel
parallel lines
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Word forms
- Plural
- parallels
- Third person singular
- parallels
- Past tense
- paralleled, parallelled[UK nonstandard]
- Comparative
- more parallel
- Superlative
- most parallel
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The two railway tracks run _____ to each other.
Etymology
From Latin parallelus, from Greek parallelos ("beside one another").
Synonyms
View more →
analogous
corresponding
matching
equivalent
concurrent
side by side
analog
latitude
analogue
twin
duplicate
collimate
Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “parallel” mean?
The word “parallel” means running alongside something else, always the same distance apart, never meeting. In plain terms, running side by side without meeting (literally), or closely similar/matching (figuratively).
How do you pronounce “parallel”?
“Parallel” is pronounced PA-ruh-lehl (/ˈpæ.ɹəˌlɛl/ in IPA).
How do you use “parallel” in a sentence?
Here is “parallel” used in a sentence: “The two railway tracks run parallel to each other.”
What is the opposite of “parallel”?
The opposite of “parallel” — its antonyms — are antiparallel, perpendicular and skew.
What part of speech is “parallel”?
Depending on how it is used, “parallel” can be an adjective, a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “parallel” come from?
The word “parallel” comes from Latin. From Latin parallelus, from Greek parallelos ("beside one another").
Is “parallel” a common word?
“Parallel” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “parallel” have?
“Parallel” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: running alongside something else, always the same distance apart, never meeting.
What is the difference between parallel and perpendicular lines?
Parallel lines run alongside each other, always the same distance apart, and never meet. Perpendicular lines, by contrast, cross each other and meet at a right angle.
Can parallel mean similar rather than geometric?
Yes. Besides the geometric sense of lines the same distance apart, parallel can mean similar or comparable in nature, or happening at the same time. For example, two events may follow parallel paths without being lines at all.
How do you spell the different forms of parallel?
The base word keeps one r and a double l: parallel. Unusually for English verbs, the common forms are paralleled and paralleling, without doubling the final l.
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