nearly
Americanadverb
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all but; almost.
nearly dead with cold.
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with close approximation.
a nearly perfect likeness.
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with close agreement or resemblance.
a plan nearly like our own.
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with close kinship, interest, or connection; intimately.
nearly associated in business;
two women nearly related.
adverb
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not quite; almost; practically
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nowhere near; not at all
not nearly enough money
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closely
the person most nearly concerned
Synonym Usage
See almost.
Etymology
Origin of nearly
Explanation
When something nearly happens, it comes very close to occurring, but doesn't. Nearly is a useful adverb for describing things that are almost accomplished. If you and your brother nearly win the three-legged race, you lose by a matter of seconds. And, if you nearly drop your dog's leash at a busy intersection, your heart might pound from the closeness of your best pal's brush with danger. An interesting detail about nearly is that it nearly ended up with a different meaning: until the late 1600s, in fact, it meant "carefully."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Accuracy for the mismatched items dropped to nearly zero in some cases.
From Science Daily • Jun. 10, 2026
The nearly 10-minute sequence used handheld camerawork to intensify the stakes.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026
The European Central Bank is set to raise interest rates for the first time in nearly three years due to broader inflation pressures.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026
Throughout the trial, prosecutors called nearly two dozen witnesses, concentrating their evidence on eye-witness testimonies.
From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026
“Or at least, I believed that she believed it. She believed Luc was coming to find her, and when she told me at 4:55 that morning she was nearly out of her mind with panic.”
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
