definitions

almost

[ awl-mohst, awl-mohst ]
/ ˈɔl moʊst, ɔlˈmoʊst /
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SEE MORE 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.

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RELATED WORDS

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

Nearby words

almoner, almoner's cupboard, almonry, almoravid, almoravide, almost, almost everywhere, almost periodic function, almous, alms, almsgiver

Origin of almost

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

Can be confused

almost most (see usage note at most)

Synonym study

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

See most.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples 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