almost
Americanadverb
adverb
Usage
See most.
Synonym Usage
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.
Etymology
Origin of almost
First recorded before 1000; Middle English almost, almast, almest, Old English eall(e) mǣst “nearly all”
Explanation
Almost means "nearly," "roughly," or "not quite." If you're almost as tall as your brother, it means he's still just a bit taller than you are. If you almost got a great job, you came close but weren't ultimately successful, and if you're almost qualified to get your pilot's license, nobody's going to let you fly a plane quite yet. The adverb almost is perfect for describing things you come close to doing, or states you haven't yet reached. It has an Old English root, eallmæst, "nearly all," or literally, "mostly all."
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.
On Thursday, it published a new report which warns there is an almost nine in ten chance the world will see a new record temperature within the next five years.
From BBC • May 27, 2026
Because of the awkward proportions of the drawing, about 8-by-1 feet, these churches are almost comically crammed in, like an overpacked suitcase, using every inch of space.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 27, 2026
For FedEx as a whole, Wall Street projects almost $94 billion in sales and $6.5 billion in operating income.
From Barron's • May 27, 2026
He had almost 70 film and TV credits to his name, per IMDb, plus dozens of theater roles under his belt.
From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2026
By now I had learned to make the nighttime trip out to Pickwick’s almost as skillfully as could Kik.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
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.
