adj
parallel
PA-ruh-lehl
adj
1
Running alongside something else, always the same distance apart, never meeting.
"The two railway tracks run parallel to each other."
2
Similar or comparable in nature; happening at the same time.
"The two countries followed parallel paths of economic reform."
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."
verb
1
To be similar to or match something else.
"Her career parallels her mother's in many ways."
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
Word Forms
more parallel comparative, paralleled past tense, parallelled[UK nonstandard] past tense, parallels plural, parallels singular, most parallel superlative
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The two railway tracks run _____ to each other.
Etymology
From Latin parallelus, from Greek parallelos ("beside one another").