stern foremost or backward; " the steamer went astern at half speed"

( of a ship or an airplane) behind; " we dropped her astern on the end of a seven- inch manilla, and she laid comfortably on the ebb tide"

In or at the hinder part of a ship; toward the hinder part, or stern; backward; as, to go astern.

Behind a ship; in the rear.

A nautical term; at or toward the back of a ship; behind a ship.

On the stern: towards the hinder part of a ship: behind.

In, at, or toward the hinder part of a ship.

Behind; backward.

In, at, or towards the hinder part of a ship; behind a ship, at any indefinite distance backward.

At the stern; the hinder part of a ship; behind.

On a night like this, and with the wind astern, the sound will be heard miles away. – By Pike and Dyke: A Tale of the Rise of the Dutch Republic by G.A. Henty

It was about six bells in the afternoon watch when we filled away in pursuit of the ship, and the sun was within half an hour of his setting when we overtook and brought her to, the Dolphin being at that time some two miles astern of us. – The Log of a Privateersman by Harry Collingwood

The second torpedo was fired; this also passed just about a foot astern, and the submarine saw it. – The Victory At Sea by William Sowden Sims Burton J. Hendrick

There was a splash and a shriek as it passed directly under the wheel and disappeared in the foam astern. – Over the Rocky Mountains to Alaska by Charles Warren Stoddard

And there she is, due to the time- about a mile astern. – The Light of Scarthey by Egerton Castle

The two boats had not left the Pharos twenty yards astern, when Joe Dumsby cried, Ho! – The Lighthouse by Robert Ballantyne

Scarterfield cast a glance astern- the glance of a man who draws back the curtain from a set stage. – Ravensdene Court by J. S. (Joseph Smith) Fletcher

We ran to the starboard side, in a body, and looked over; but there was no sign of a light in the darkness astern. – The Ghost Pirates by William Hope Hodgson

With both my hands full I couldn't do much swimming, and the tide carried me astern of the boat before I knew it. – A Jolly Fellowship by Frank R. Stockton

It was long in coming, and fell astern. – The Argus Pheasant by John Charles Beecham

This man was now seated in his little skiff about one hundred feet astern of the Gadabout. – The Go Ahead Boys on Smugglers' Island by Ross Kay

While we sailed along we trailed a line astern of us with some tempting- looking flies on it in the hope that we might get a trout for dinner. – Young Knights of the Empire by Sir Robert Baden-Powell

The admiral, having now slackened the Dutch admiral's fire, passed ahead of the Buffalo, on which the ships astern closed up to the Buffalo; and the Berwick took the station ahead of the admiral. – Memoirs and Correspondence of Admiral Lord de Saumarez, Vol. I by Sir John Ross

An out- and- out pirate, you can tell at a glance, even though she does fly a square red flag astern with a white edge. – From Edinburgh to India & Burmah by William G. Burn Murdoch

The French were approaching steadily, but inevitably dropping astern with reference to the point of the enemy's line for which they were heading. – The Major Operations of the Navies in the War of American Independence by A. T. Mahan

Astern of these two groups from van and centre were a number of other ships in various degrees of confusion,- some going about, some trying to come up, others completely disabled. – The Major Operations of the Navies in the War of American Independence by A. T. Mahan

A blow with the handspike sent him overboard, and he went astern; but another was following him, and I stood prepared to receive him. – Poor Jack by Frederick Marryat

The two steamers, now far astern, have become choked by a general break up and alteration of their portion of the world. – Ismailia by Samuel W. Baker

We steamed along, dark night astern this time and the white morning above our bow. – The U-boat hunters by James B. Connolly

You fancy you see the foam roll away and go glancing astern. – Nooks and Corners of the New England Coast by Samuel Adams Drake