Word
parallel
Phoneticspar·al·lel, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈpɛɹəˌɫɛɫ/
UK/pˈæɹəlˌɛl/
Definitions
01geometry/lines
B1 · Intermediate Mathematics
adj. describing two lines that stay the same distance apart and never touch.
adj. describing lines or planes that are equidistant at all points and never intersect.
“The train tracks run parallel to each other for miles.”
“The architect ensured that the support beams remained perfectly parallel to the floor to maintain the structural integrity of the glass ceiling.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02similar or matching
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. happening at the same time or being very similar.
adj. occurring simultaneously or having a similar development, nature, or tendency.
“The two countries followed parallel paths toward economic growth.”
“The researchers noted parallel developments in both test groups, despite the different environmental variables introduced at the start of the study.”
Synonyms
03computing
C1 · Advanced Computing Technical
adj. doing many tasks at the same time using different parts of a computer.
adj. relating to the simultaneous execution of multiple operations or tasks by a computer system.
日本語:並列※
“Parallel processing allows the computer to handle complex graphics quickly.”
“By utilizing parallel computing architectures, the laboratory was able to reduce the data processing time from weeks to mere hours.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
04a similarity
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a way in which two things are similar or can be compared.
n. a person or thing that is similar or analogous to another; a comparison that highlights such similarities.
“It is easy to see a parallel between this movie and the book.”
“Historians often draw a parallel between the fall of the Roman Empire and the decline of modern superpowers.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
05geography
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Geography
n. an imaginary line around the Earth that is parallel to the equator.
n. an imaginary circle on the earth's surface that is parallel to the plane of the equator, marking latitude.
Español:paralelo
“The 38th parallel is a famous border between North and South Korea.”
“The expedition crossed the 45th parallel, marking the halfway point between the equator and the North Pole.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
06to be similar to
C1 · Advanced Academic
v. to be very similar to something else or to happen at the same time.
v. to be similar to or to correspond with something; to run in the same direction as something else.
“The rise in prices parallels the increase in the cost of fuel.”
“The author's personal life often parallels the struggles of the characters in her novels, suggesting a strong autobiographical influence.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “parallel” in context.
Adjective
01. closely parallel
“The development of the two cities is closely parallel, as both grew around the textile industry.”
adv + adj
02. finding parallel
Real-World Examples
“Educational opportunities are diverging in parallel with economic ones.” “As you’ll soon see, there are many parallels between LLMs and world models in terms of architecture and how people expect them to improve over time.” “The shell pendant is interesting because it has parallels in other sites in Catalonia, which suggests shared traditions or connections between different communities.” “The parallel experience between the young Muslim Americans and the authors of the letters was hard to miss.” Etymology
From Middle French parallèle and its etymon Latin parallēlus, parallēlos. The verb is from the noun. By surface analysis, par- + all- + -el.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
ADJECTIVE
Related words
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/parallel
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0