near

1 of 4

adverb

ˈnir 

1

: at, within, or to a short distance or time

sunset was drawing near

2

: almost, nearly

was near dead

3

: in a close or intimate manner : closely

near related

4

archaic : in a frugal manner

near

2 of 4

preposition

: close to

beaches near the city

seemed to be near death

near

3 of 4

adjective

1

a

: not far distant in time, place, or degree

in the near future

b

: almost happening : narrowly missed or avoided

a near win in the primary

a near midair collision

c

: nearly not happening

a near escape

2

: closely related or intimately associated

her nearest and dearest friend

3

a

: being the closer of two

the near side

b

: being the left-hand one of a pair

the near wheel of a cart

4

: direct, short

the nearest road

5

: stingy, closefisted

6

a

: closely resembling the standard or typical

a near desert

b

: approximating the genuine

near silk

nearness noun

near

4 of 4

verb

neared; nearing; nears

: approach

Synonyms

Adverb

• around
• by
• close
• hard
• in
• nearby
• nigh

Preposition

• about
• around
• by
• next to
• nigh

Adjective

• closer
• hither
• nigher
• this

Verb

• approach
• belly up
• close
• close in
• come up
• draw on
• nigh

Examples of near in a Sentence

Adverb

The plant was near dead when I got it.

as the campers grew cold, so they gravitated nearer to the campfire

Preposition

I left the box near the door.

The cat won't go near fire.

There are several beaches near here.

She came home near midnight.

We feared he was near death.

Adjective

The nearest grocery store is three blocks away.

The near side headlight is out.

Verb

As the date of the performance neared, we grew more and more anxious.

He always cheers up when baseball season nears.

The airplane began to descend as it neared the island.

He must be nearing 80 years of age.

The negotiators were nearing a decision.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

Regardless of the category, a life-threatening and highly destructive storm surge will occur near and just south of where the eye moves ashore, AccuWeather said. —Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 9 Oct. 2024

It’s hovered near or at the top of Apple’s original series rankings since its Season 4 premiere. —Ben Travers, IndieWire, 9 Oct. 2024

Preposition

The School's state-of-the-art medical education facility is under construction in Bentonville, Arkansas near Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and Heartland Whole Health Institute. —Deb Harvell, arkansasonline.com, 27 Oct. 2024

The bar said Corder was near Wiggle Room, another bar located at 2988 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., when she was struck. —Drake Bentley, Journal Sentinel, 26 Oct. 2024

Adjective

To locate the nearest AARP TCE Tax-Aide site between January and April, use the AARP Site Locator Tool or call 888.227.7669. —Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 26 Oct. 2024

More release information, including additional festival dates, will be made available in the near future. —Jack Dunn, Variety, 26 Oct. 2024

Verb

By the following spring, with the primary nearing its conclusion, Vance’s public image was still largely defined by the attack ads his rivals were running, highlighting his past anti-Trump comments. —Benjamin Wallace-Wells, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024

Topline Virginia on Monday asked the Supreme Court to take up a dispute over whether the state can purge people from its voter rolls right before Election Day, as the high court is likely to face a slew of last-minute voting lawsuits as Election Day nears. —Alison Durkee, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adverb, Preposition, Adjective, and Verb

Middle English ner, partly from ner nearer, from Old English nēar, comparative of nēah nigh; partly from Old Norse nær nearer, comparative of nā- nigh — more at nigh

First Known Use

Adverb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Preposition

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

circa 1522, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing near

• anything near
• as far/near as I can tell
• as near as dammit
• as near as damn it
• (as) near as someone can tell/figure
• close/dear/near to one's heart
• damn near
• darn near
• draw near
• draw near/nigh
• far and near
• from far and near
• from near and far
• near and dear
• near and dear to her heart
• near at hand
• near beer
• near completion
• near-death experience
• near field communication
• near gale
• near-infrared
• near miss
• near money
• near point
• near relation
• near the mark
• near the wind
• near thing
• near-ultraviolet
• nowhere near
• pretty near/nearly
• too near for comfort

Kids Definition

near

1 of 4 adverb

ˈni(ə)r 

1

: at, within, or to a short distance or time

night was drawing near

2

: in a condition or state resembling or close to : almost

near dead

3

: nearly sense 1

near related

near

2 of 4 preposition

(ˈ)ni(ə)r

: close to

standing near the door

near

3 of 4 adjective

ˈni(ə)r

1

: closely related or associated

her nearest and dearest friend

2

a

: not far away

the near future

b

: barely avoided

a near disaster

c

: almost not happening

a near victory

3

: being the closer of two

the near side of a hill

4

: direct entry 2 sense 1, short

the nearest route

5

: closely resembling a model or a genuine example

near silk

nearness noun

near

4 of 4 verb

ˈni(ə)r

: to come near : approach

the ship was nearing the dock

Etymology

Adverb

Old English nēar "nearer," comparative form of nēah "near, close" — related to neighbor, nigh see Word History at neighbor