beam-on adverb1 •Coming from a point abeam (neither directly ahead/head-on, nor well before the beam, nor directly astern, nor well abaft the beam/quartering); said of waves or any object moving relative to the vessel."The jetski slewed around and hit the buoy beam-on. A bystander on the dock hastily threw a lifeline, which flew over the swimming jetskier's head and hit our boat beam-on, tangling itself in the shrouds."