Parallel
/ˈpæɹəˌlɛl/
Definitions
3 meaningsExtending in the same direction, equidistant at all points, and never intersecting.
/ˈpæɹəˌlɛl/
Being side by side and having the same distance continuously.
The railroad tracks are parallel.
💡 Simply: Imagine two roads that never meet, like the lines on your notebook paper. They're parallel!
👶 For kids: Like two lines that always go the same way and never touch.
More Examples
We drew parallel lines on the paper.
The two countries have parallel interests in trade.
How It's Used
"Parallel lines never intersect."
"The parallel circuits are designed to spread electricity across different paths."
A similarity or analogy; a point of resemblance.
/ˈpæɹəˌlɛl/
A comparison or analogy made to show a similarity.
The teacher drew a parallel between the story and real life.
💡 Simply: Finding things that are similar, like saying 'That situation is like what happened in the movie!'
👶 For kids: When two things are alike in some ways.
More Examples
There are many parallels between the two societies.
The artist found a parallel between his struggles and the protagonist's.
How It's Used
"The author drew a parallel between the two characters' experiences."
"Historians often draw parallels between historical events."
To be similar or analogous to; to correspond to.
/ˈpæɹəˌlɛl/
To be or occur alongside something else.
Her experience paralleled mine in many ways.
💡 Simply: To be similar to something else. Think: 'The music from the movie parallels the feeling of the scene.'
👶 For kids: When something is like something else.
More Examples
The economic growth paralleled the population increase.
The artist tried to parallel their experience with that of the audience.
How It's Used
"The developments in science paralleled those in art during that period."
"The research aims to parallel trends of various social behaviors."
Synonyms
Aligned
Analogy
Comparison
Correlation
Correspond
Equal
Mirror
Idioms & expressions
parallel parking
The act of parking a vehicle alongside and parallel to the curb.
"She struggled with parallel parking on her driving test."
in parallel
Happening or done at the same time or in a related way; independently but concurrently.
"The two companies worked in parallel on the project, sharing resources."
From Latin *parallelus*, from Greek *parallēlos* ('parallel'), from *para* ('beside') + *allēlos* ('one another').
The word 'parallel' has been used since the 16th century, initially in geometry and later in broader contexts to denote similarity and comparison.
Memory tip
Think of train tracks - they always stay the same distance apart.