nearly

American  

[neer-lee] / ˈnɪər li /

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.

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nearly British  

/ ˈnɪəlɪ /

adverb

1. not quite; almost; practically

2. nowhere near; not at all

   not nearly enough money

3. closely

   the person most nearly concerned

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Related Words

See almost.

Etymology

Origin of nearly

First recorded in 1530–40; near + -ly

Example Sentences

It is a deputized state law enforcement agency of nearly 80 individuals tasked with preventing theft by checking that brands match their registered owners.

From The Wall Street Journal

Once completed, the recount of nearly 2,800 tally sheets with suspected inconsistencies, pored over by hundreds of electoral staff and political delegates, will determine the winner.

From Barron's

And, as Charles Lieberman of Advisors Capital tells Barron’s, GDP showed that inventories were “nearly flat after a large decline in the second quarter.”

From Barron's

At the heart of this tradition was one of Britain's oldest breeds, the Norfolk Black, which was nearly lost to history until one farming family stepped in to save it.

From BBC

While many voltage substations are well protected, he said, there are roughly 3,500 distribution substations across Ukraine, making it nearly impossible to protect them all.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• approximately
• practically
• roughly
• virtually