next

1 of 4

adjective

1
: immediately adjacent (as in place, rank, or time)
2
: any other considered hypothetically
knew it as well as the next man

see also next to nothing

next

2 of 4

preposition

: nearest or adjacent to

next

3 of 4

adverb

1
: in the time, place, or order nearest or immediately succeeding
next we drove home
the next closest school
2
: on the first occasion to come
when next we meet

next

4 of 4

noun

: one that is next
from one day to the next

Examples of next in a Sentence

Adjective I'll see you next Monday. Next year's party will be even better. the very next thing that happened Can I help the next person in line? Who's next? We could hear people talking in the next room. At the next set of lights, turn left. I need the next size up. The next time we will see each other will be on our wedding day. Next time, please remember to bring your books to class. She knew the answer as well as the next person. Adverb Next, I need to ask you a few questions about your family.
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Adjective
For the next few years, the United States will speak with one voice on foreign policy, and that voice will be Trump’s. Daniel W. Drezner, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2024 The trust would be funded in installments over several years, beginning with an initial installment of about $65 million and growing by $10 million to $13 million for the next several years. Jakob Rodgers, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
Preposition
While rumors continue to circulate that Microsoft will finally dip its tech toes into handheld gaming next year, 2024 is still filled with enough Xbox sales on gaming peripherals to get any gamer going to the checkout. Carlos Mejia, PCMAG, 11 Nov. 2024 The movie, hailing from Disney’s 20th Century Studios, is set to hit theaters next year. Ellise Shafer, Variety, 5 Nov. 2024
Adverb
He will be seen next in Netflix’s feature film Carry-On, which drops on December 13. Marc Berman, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024 Were things get hard with ending Marvel shows is like, what’s happening next? Adam B. Vary, Variety, 1 Nov. 2024
Noun
One sport to the next sees what the other has done and wants some of the same stuff. Lia Assimakopoulos, Dallas News, 8 Mar. 2023 So bouncing from one tone and genre to the next creates a whiplash effect, even though some of the episodes — that fourth one in particular — are quite good. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 15 Mar. 2023 See all Example Sentences for next 

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Old English nīehst, superlative of nēah nigh — more at nigh

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Preposition

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of next was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near next

Cite this Entry

“Next.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/next. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

next

1 of 3 adjective
: coming immediately before or following
the next page
the house next to ours

next

2 of 3 preposition
(ˈ)nekst

next

3 of 3 adverb
ˈnekst
1
: in the nearest time, place, or order following
open this package next
2
: at the first time to come after this
when next we meet

More from Merriam-Webster on next

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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