near

[neer]

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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR near ON THESAURUS.COM

adverb, near·er, near·est.

close; to a point or place not far away: Come near so I won't have to shout.

at, within, or to a short distance.

close in time: The New Year draws near.

close in relation; closely with respect to connection, similarity, intimacy, etc. (often used in combination): a near-standing position.

all but; almost; nearly: a period of near 30 years.

Nautical. close to the wind.

Archaic. in a thrifty or stingy manner.

adjective, near·er, near·est.

being close by; not distant: the near fields.

being the lesser in distance: the near side.

short or direct: the near road.

close in time: the near future.

closely related or connected: our nearest relatives.

close to an original: a near translation.

closely affecting one's interests or feelings: a matter of near consequence to one.

intimate or familiar: a near friend.

narrow or close: a near escape.

thrifty or stingy: near with one's pocketbook.

(of two draft animals hitched together) being on the driver's left (as opposed to off): The near horse is going lame.

preposition

at, to, or within a short distance, or no great distance, from or of: regions near the equator.

close to in time: near the beginning of the year.

close to a condition or state: He is near death.

verb (used with or without object)

to come or draw near; approach: The boat neared the dock. Storm clouds neared.

Idioms

near at hand,

in the immediate vicinity: There is a shopping area near at hand.
in the near future; soon: The departure is near at hand.

Origin of near

before 900; Middle English nere, Old English nēar, comparative of nēah nigh

Related formsnear·ness, nouno·ver·near, adjective, adverbo·ver·near·ness, noun

Synonyms for near

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR near ON THESAURUS.COM

11. imminent, impending, approaching. 17. tight, miserly.

Antonyms for near

1, 2, 8–11, 18. far. 17. generous.

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

Related Words for near

neighboring, immediate, warm, adjoining, adjacent, nearby, imminent, impending, dear, friendly, burning, touching, ready, close, bordering, abutting, nigh, expected, coming, approximate

Examples from the Web for near

Contemporary Examples of near

After the defeat of ISIS in Sinjar, most other locals have been left wondering who might rule the city in the near future.
Has the Kurdish Victory at Sinjar Turned the Tide of ISIS War?
Niqash
December 27, 2014
They recorded 10,549 graves on or near the railway in 144 cemeteries, failing to locate only 52 graves.
Riding Thailand’s WWII Death Railway
Liza Foreman
December 21, 2014
I know that one day in the near (ish) future, we will return to our usual hikes and bike rides.
You’re Never ‘Cured’ of an Eating Disorder
Carrie Arnold
December 20, 2014
As my injured leg improves, my left leg starts aching, then throbbing, near my hip.
You’re Never ‘Cured’ of an Eating Disorder
Carrie Arnold
December 20, 2014
Near the end of my tour of the exhibit, Cafiero lingers on the last photos of Ramone.
‘All Good Cretins Go to Heaven’: Dee Dee Ramone’s Twisted Punk Paintings
Melissa Leon
December 15, 2014

Historical Examples of near

He shuddered as he thought how near he had been to never meeting them again on earth.
Brave and Bold
Horatio Alger
And then by a street sign she saw that she was near the home of Philippe.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
"I knew he'd plunge," he said, taking the chair proffered him, near Shepler's desk.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
It would be pleasanter inland, but we must be near the shore, so as to be in sight of ships.
Brave and Bold
Horatio Alger
"They are as near alike as if they were brothers," he said to himself.
Brave and Bold
Horatio Alger

British Dictionary definitions for near

near

preposition

at or to a place or time not far away from; close to

adverb

at or to a place or time not far away; close by

near to not far from; near

short for nearly I was damn near killed

adjective

at or in a place not far away

(postpositive) not far away in time; imminentdeparture time was near

(prenominal) only just successful or only just failinga near escape

(postpositive) informal miserly, mean

(prenominal) closely connected or intimatea near relation

verb

to come or draw close (to)

noun

Also called: nearside

the left side of a horse, team of animals, vehicle, etc
(as modifier)the near foreleg

Derived Formsnearness, noun

Word Origin for near

Old English nēar (adv), comparative of nēah close, nigh; related to Old Frisian niār, Old Norse nǣr, Old High German nāhōr

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

Word Origin and History for near

adv.

Old English near "closer, nearer," comparative of neah, neh"nigh." Influenced by Old Norse naer "near," it came to be used as a positive form mid-13c., and new comparative nearer developed 1500s (see nigh). As an adjective from c.1300. Originally an adverb but now supplanted in most such senses by nearly; it has in turn supplanted correct nigh as an adjective. Related: Nearness. In near and dear (1620s) it refers to nearness of kinship. Near East first attested 1891, in Kipling. Near beer "low-alcoholic brew" is from 1908.

"to draw near," 1510s, from near (adv.). Related: Neared; nearing.

Idioms and Phrases with near

near

In addition to the idioms beginning with near

near at hand
near miss
near thing
near to one's heart

also see:

far and near
in the near future
not anything like (anywhere near)