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.

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To cook in water that begins cold and then reaches a boil.

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Idioms for near

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 nēahnigh

SYNONYMS FOR near

11 imminent, impending, approaching.

17 tight, miserly.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR near

ANTONYMS FOR near

1, 2, 8-11, 18 far.

17 generous.

SEE ANTONYMS FOR near

OTHER WORDS FROM near

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for near

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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST

The second vehicle is nearing completion by Mojave-based company Scaled Composites.
Can Anyone Make Space Safe for Civilians?|Clive Irving|November 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When I awoke it was daylight, and a glance through a port-hole showed that we were nearing a flat coast.
The Fortunate Isles|Mary Stuart Boyd
I remember hearing a man speaking that name on the train when we were nearing your station, Uncle!
Storm-Bound|Alan Douglas
Discomforts were quickly forgotten in the thrill of nearing battle grounds.
New Zealanders at Gallipoli|Major Fred Waite
As I write, nearing midnight, the bookcase behind me cracks.
The Best Ghost Stories|Various
As we were nearing camp on our way back, a large steamboat nearly ran us down.
Harper's Young People, August 31, 1880|Various

British Dictionary definitions for near (1 of 2)

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 of near

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

British Dictionary definitions for near (2 of 2)

near-

combining form

nearly; almosta 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

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)

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

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WORD OF THE DAY

near

adverb, near·er, near·est.

adjective, near·er, near·est.

preposition

verb (used with or without object)

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Idioms for near

Origin of near

SYNONYMS FOR near

ANTONYMS FOR near

OTHER WORDS FROM near

Example sentences from the Web for near

British Dictionary definitions for near (1 of 2)

preposition

adverb

adjective

verb

noun

Derived forms of near

Word Origin for near

British Dictionary definitions for near (2 of 2)

combining form

Idioms and Phrases with near

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

near

adverb, near·er, near·est.

adjective, near·er, near·est.

preposition

verb (used with or without object)

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Idioms for near

Origin of near

SYNONYMS FOR near

ANTONYMS FOR near

OTHER WORDS FROM near

Words related to near

Example sentences from the Web for near

British Dictionary definitions for near (1 of 2)

preposition

adverb

adjective

verb

noun

Derived forms of near

Word Origin for near

British Dictionary definitions for near (2 of 2)

combining form

Idioms and Phrases with near