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.

Woods last competed on tour in 2024 at the British Open, but the 15-time major champion had been nearing a comeback.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

The contractor, who started work between 10:00 and 10:30, had been nearing the completion of work on the toilet when he became trapped just before 13:00.

From BBC • Feb. 9, 2023

The father of three had been nearing the end of a 10-month deployment in Iraq.

From Salon • Nov. 14, 2022

The disease is vaccine-preventable and had been nearing eradication in most of the world.

From Scientific American • Mar. 29, 2022

Unnoticed until now, a fisher’s boat, which for some time had been nearing the shore, swept under the packet’s stern and grazed along the stone front of the pier.

From Cleek of Scotland Yard Detective Stories by Hanshew, Thomas W.