almost

[ awl-mohst, awl-mohst ]
/ ˈɔl moʊst, ɔlˈmoʊst /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR almost ON THESAURUS.COM

adverb

very nearly; all but: almost every house; almost the entire symphony; to pay almost nothing for a car; almost twice as many books.

QUIZZES

PRACTICE SOME ESCAPISM WITH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

We salute you if you remember all the doovers from Word of the Day between May 25 and May 31!
Question 1 of 7
salute
to call out to in order to stop, attract attention, ask aid, etc.
to wield power; exercise rule.
to express respect or praise for; honor; commend.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of almost

before 1000; Middle English; Old English (e)al māst, variant of æl mǣst nearly

synonym study for almost

Almost, most, nearly, well-nigh all mean within a small degree of or short space of. Almost implies very little short of: almost exhausted; almost home. Most is colloquial for almost. Nearly implies a slightly greater distance or degree than almost : nearly well; nearly to the city. Well-nigh, a more literary word, implies a barely appreciable distance or extent: well-nigh forgotten; well-nigh home.

usage note for almost

See most.

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH almost

almost most (see usage note at most)

Words nearby almost

almoner, almoner's cupboard, almonry, almoravid, almoravide, almost, almost everywhere, almost periodic function, almous, alms, almsgiver
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to almost

essentially, around, practically, roughly, approximately, most, much, virtually, about, relatively, well-nigh, nigh, substantially

Example sentences from the Web for almost

British Dictionary definitions for almost

almost
/ (ˈɔːlməʊst) /

adverb

little short of being; very nearly
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