var lstOut = ['', '', '']; [["a", "b", "c"], ["A", "B", "C"], ["1", "2", "3"]].forEach( function (a) { [0, 1, 2].forEach( function (i) { // side-effect on an array outside the function lstOut[i] += a[i]; } ); } ); // lstOut --> ["aA1", "bB2", "cC3"]