nigh

[ nahy ]
See synonyms for nigh on Thesaurus.com
adverb
  1. near in space, time, or relation: The time draws nigh.

  2. nearly; almost; (often followed by on or onto): nigh onto twenty years.

adjective,nigh·er, nigh·est.
  1. near; approaching: Evening is nigh.

  2. short or direct: to take the nighest route.

  1. (of an animal or vehicle) being on the left side: to be astride the nigh horse.

  2. Archaic. parsimonious; stingy.

preposition
verb (used with or without object)
  1. Archaic. to approach.

Origin of nigh

1
before 900; Middle English nigh(e), neye,Old English nēah, nēh, cognate with Dutch na,German nahe,Old Norse nā-,Gothic nehw, nehwa;cf. near, next

Other words from nigh

  • un·nigh, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use nigh in a sentence

  • Brer Fox, he come nigher en git on de log; Brer Tarrypin aint sayin' nothin'.

    Nights With Uncle Remus | Joel Chandler Harris
  • Brer Fox still git up nigher en play on de quills; still Brer Tarrypin aint sayin' nothin'.

    Nights With Uncle Remus | Joel Chandler Harris
  • But as I cannot bring t' fire nigher thee, I mun bring thee nigher to t' fire.

  • "I half suspect not," said he, in a low tone, and to hear which she was obliged to draw nigher to where he stood.

    Barrington | Charles James Lever
  • Shove in the canoe nigher to the land, Uncas; this sand will take a stamp as easily as the butter of the Jarmans on the Mohawk.

    The Last of the Mohicans | James Fenimore Cooper

British Dictionary definitions for nigh

nigh

/ (naɪ) /


adjective, adverb, preposition
  1. an archaic, poetic, or dialect word for near

Origin of nigh

1
Old English nēah, nēh; related to German nah, Old Frisian nei. Compare near, next

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012