Find Antonyms
astern Antonyms
Opposite of astern
Because the opposite of astern shifts with each meaning, the antonyms and opposite words below are separated across 4 exact definitions and ranked by contrast strength.
• adverb (Context 1)
Behind or toward the rear of a ship or aircraft.
Usage Example
"The coast guard cutter left a long white wake stretching far ahead."
Strongest
ahead
forward
Strong
fore
• adverb (Context 2)
Backward; in reverse motion (of a ship or boat).
Usage Example
"The pilot ordered the engines full ahead to avoid colliding with the pier."
Strongest
ahead
forward
• adjective (Context 3)
Situated at or toward the stern or rear of a ship or aircraft, or directly behind it.
Usage Example
"The captain checked the radar to monitor the vessels that were still ahead."
Strongest
ahead
Strong
forward
• preposition (Context 4)
Behind the stern of (a ship) or in the rear of.
Usage Example
"Normally uses 'before of', though occasionally in nautical contexts a boat is said to pass directly before the flagship."
Strong
before
Similar words to astern
Words similar to astern shift depending on context. Common synonyms include:
abaft
behind
backward
aft
backwards
rearward
aback
• Nearby Words
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Antonyms for Astern. In Wordmom Thesaurus. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/antonyms/astern