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 nearing

threatening, impending, coming, advancing, forthcoming, imminent, oncoming, upcoming

Examples from the Web for nearing

Contemporary Examples of nearing

Congress is nearing a vote on the Keystone XL pipeline, and lawmakers made their cases for—and against—it Sunday.
Fact-Checking the Sunday Shows: Jan. 4
PunditFact.com
January 5, 2015
He hoped also to be a chaplain through his local church, and he was nearing the end of his formal training.
In The Shadow of Murdered Cops
Michael Daly
December 26, 2014
Liu was nearing the 20th anniversary of his arrival in America, having landed from China on Christmas Eve, 1994, at the age of 12.
In The Shadow of Murdered Cops
Michael Daly
December 26, 2014
He was nearing the end of his sentence, but the woman enlisted Joplin to marry them before he was released.
Saying Yes to the Dress—Behind Bars
Caitlin Dickson
December 8, 2014
The second vehicle is nearing completion by Mojave-based company Scaled Composites.
Can Anyone Make Space Safe for Civilians?
Clive Irving
November 4, 2014

Historical Examples of nearing

Are we nearing the light—a day of freedom and of peace for all mankind?
United States Presidents' Inaugural Speeches
Various
It was nearing sundown when Kingozi emerged from his tent and gave the signal to move.
The Leopard Woman
Stewart Edward White
The coachman, nearing the goal, had given the horse his head.
Casanova's Homecoming
Arthur Schnitzler
The doctor is nearing them rapidly; they can imagine the shepherd's tartan.
A Doctor of the Old School, Part 3
Ian Maclaren
The hands of the clock on the front of the Strangers' Gallery were nearing six.
The Coryston Family
Mrs. Humphry Ward

British Dictionary definitions for nearing

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 nearing

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.

near

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

Idioms and Phrases with nearing

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)