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View synonyms for near

near

[ neer ]

adverb

, near·er, near·est.
  1. close; to a point or place not far away:

    Come near so I won't have to shout.

    Antonyms: far

  2. at, within, or to a short distance.

    Antonyms: far

  3. close in time:

    The New Year draws near.

  4. close in relation; closely with respect to connection, similarity, intimacy, etc. (often used in combination):

    a near-standing position.

  5. all but; almost; nearly:

    a period of near 30 years.

  6. Nautical. close to the wind.
  7. Archaic. in a thrifty or stingy manner.


adjective

, near·er, near·est.
  1. being close by; not distant:

    the near fields.

    Antonyms: far

  2. being the lesser in distance:

    the near side.

    Antonyms: far

  3. short or direct:

    the near road.

    Antonyms: far

  4. close in time:

    the near future.

    Synonyms: impending, imminent

    Antonyms: far

  5. closely related or connected:

    our nearest relatives.

  6. close to an original:

    a near translation.

  7. closely affecting one's interests or feelings:

    a matter of near consequence to one.

  8. intimate or familiar:

    a near friend.

  9. narrow or close:

    a near escape.

  10. thrifty or stingy:

    near with one's pocketbook.

    Synonyms: miserly, tight

    Antonyms: generous

  11. (of two draft animals hitched together) being on the driver's left (as opposed to off ):

    The near horse is going lame.

    Antonyms: far

preposition

  1. at, to, or within a short distance, or no great distance, from or of:

    regions near the equator.

  2. close to in time:

    near the beginning of the year.

  3. close to a condition or state:

    He is near death.

verb (used with or without object)

  1. to come or draw near; approach:

    The boat neared the dock. Storm clouds neared.

near-

1

combining_form

  1. nearly; almost

    a near-perfect landing

“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


near

2

/ nɪə /

preposition

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

adverb

  1. at or to a place or time not far away; close by
  2. near to
    not far from; near
  3. short for nearly

    I was damn near killed

“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

adjective

  1. at or in a place not far away
  2. postpositive not far away in time; imminent

    departure time was near

  3. prenominal only just successful or only just failing

    a near escape

  4. informal.
    postpositive miserly, mean
  5. prenominal closely connected or intimate

    a near relation

“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

verb

  1. to come or draw close (to)
“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

noun

  1. Also callednearside
    1. the left side of a horse, team of animals, vehicle, etc
    2. ( as modifier )

      the near foreleg

“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
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Derived Forms

  • ˈnearness, noun
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Other Words From

  • nearness noun
  • over·near adjective adverb
  • over·nearness noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of near1

First recorded before 900; Middle English nere, Old English nēar, comparative of nēah nigh
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Word History and Origins

Origin of near1

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

Idioms
  1. near at hand,
    1. in the immediate vicinity:

      There is a shopping area near at hand.

    2. in the near future; soon:

      The departure is near at hand.

More idioms and phrases containing near

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

Then he’ll hop the state border into western Pennsylvania for a campaign rally near Pittsburgh.

It already removes them from recommendations, restricts them from search, and in the near future, it says it will reduce their content in News Feed.

Cutler envisions putting underwater datacenters near offshore wind farms to power them sustainably.

Authorities three days later arrested several people during an unsanctioned LGBTQ rights march that took place near the Cuban Capitol in Havana.

You can also head to Finder, Applications, and Utilities—it should be at or near the top of the list.

Certainly, she seems to command near-total devotion among her clients.

Occasionally a pamphlet for a salsa class might be tossed on a doorstop or stuck on a pole near a bus stop.

While the world fixated on Ukraine and Syria, a near-genocide ripped through central Africa, to little international fanfare.

A 2008 Pakistani raid near Turbat turned up Abdolhamid Rigi, the brother of Abdelmalek Rigi.

After the defeat of ISIS in Sinjar, most other locals have been left wondering who might rule the city in the near future.

The country is well inhabited, for it contains fifty-one cities, near a hundred walled towns, and a great number of villages.

The two women had no intention of bathing; they had just strolled down to the beach for a walk and to be alone and near the water.

There was a lathe near the spot where David Arden stood, and shavings and splinters under his feet.

Madame Ratignolle laid her hand over that of Mrs. Pontellier, which was near her.

Edmund de la Pole, earl of Suffolk, on account of his near relationship to the house of York, beheaded.

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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.

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