nearly

[ neer-lee ]

adverb

1. all but; almost:

   nearly dead with cold.

2. with close approximation:

   a nearly perfect likeness.

3. with close agreement or resemblance:

   a plan nearly like our own.

4. with close kinship, interest, or connection; intimately:

   nearly associated in business;

   two women nearly related.

nearly

/ ˈnɪəlɪ /

adverb

1. not quite; almost; practically
2. not nearly
   nowhere near; not at all

   not nearly enough money

3. closely

   the person most nearly concerned

Word History and Origins

Origin of nearly¹

First recorded in 1530–40; near + -ly

Synonym Study

See almost.

Example Sentences

This gets into marketing in nearly every way possible at this time.

From Search Engine Land

Best of all, it attaches to nearly everything, thanks to the webbed panel on the back of the bag.

From Outside Online

By 2040, according to federal government projections, extreme water shortages will be nearly ubiquitous west of Missouri.

From ProPublica

Ad revenue has nearly rebounded to pre-coronavirus levels and is 1% lower than last year’s revenue, it’s only just beginning to monetize virtual events.

From Digiday

She nearly went public when blog posts stated, incorrectly she said, that Mallott’s victim was not Potts but her then-16-year-old daughter.

From ProPublica

Lady Edith is so sad that her sadness nearly set the whole damned house on fire.

From The Daily Beast

It took me 1,015 strokes to see this shade of green in a world of orange, and my jaw nearly dropped.

From The Daily Beast

For nearly her entire life Beyoncé has been giving us her blood, sweat, and tears in her career.

From The Daily Beast

Aside from a blanket ban, social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Reddit are nearly impossible to control.

From The Daily Beast

Ramos was 38—nearly two decades older than the average recruit.

From The Daily Beast

The garrison of the town and fortress was nearly three thousand strong.

From Project Gutenberg

Another crash, which nearly shut up his spine like a telescope, told him that there were no wings.

From Project Gutenberg

He began his military career at the age of 11, and continued in the service nearly 60 years.

From Project Gutenberg

He is rather tall and narrow, and wears a long abb's coat reaching nearly down to his feet.

From Project Gutenberg

She came to know the peculiarities of nearly all native trees.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• approximately
• practically
• roughly
• virtually