near

[ neer ]

/ nɪər /

|||

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.

Nearby words

neap tide, neaped, neapolitan, neapolitan ice cream, neapolitan sixth, near, near at hand, near beer, near east, near field communication, near gale

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

SYNONYMS FOR near

11 imminent, impending, approaching.

17 tight, miserly.

ANTONYMS FOR near

1, 2, 8–11, 18 far.

17 generous.

Related forms

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

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

Examples from the Web for nearer

I knew that every time I met him brought him nearer to the accomplishment of his purpose and my fate.
Read ‘The King in Yellow,’ the ‘True Detective’ Reference That’s the Key to the Show|Robert W. Chambers|February 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Old Bagan, which is nearer to the ruins, is now devoid of inhabitants and only hosts a few sleepy old hotels.
Temple Hopping in the Paradise of Bagan, Burma|Nina Strochlic|December 5, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Adams left the problem as he found it, and came north to stumble over others, less picturesque but nearer.
The Education of Henry Adams|Henry Adams
This is their danger, that there is always a stumbling-block in the way: the further they go, the nearer are they to their fall.
Henry Martyn Saint and Scholar|George Smith

There was no house known to them nearer than the shieling at Lowtherslacks, about two miles distant.
Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland|Various
And he began to flourish it over his head, and to press nearer and nearer.
The Gold Thread|Norman MacLeod
I gained on the shadow, approached it nearer and nearer,—I was within reach of it.
Peter Schlemihl|Adelbert von Chamisso

British Dictionary definitions for nearer

near

/ (nɪə) /

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 Forms

nearness, 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

Idioms and Phrases with nearer

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)

near

adverb, near·er, near·est.

adjective, near·er, near·est.

preposition

verb (used with or without object)

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of near

SYNONYMS FOR near

ANTONYMS FOR near

Related forms

Examples from the Web for nearer

British Dictionary definitions for nearer

near

preposition

adverb

adjective

verb

noun

Derived Forms

Word Origin for near

Idioms and Phrases with nearer

near