nearly
Americanadverb
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all but; almost.
nearly dead with cold.
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with close approximation.
a nearly perfect likeness.
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with close agreement or resemblance.
a plan nearly like our own.
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with close kinship, interest, or connection; intimately.
nearly associated in business;
two women nearly related.
adverb
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not quite; almost; practically
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nowhere near; not at all
not nearly enough money
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closely
the person most nearly concerned
Synonym Usage
See almost.
Etymology
Origin of nearly
Explanation
When something nearly happens, it comes very close to occurring, but doesn't. Nearly is a useful adverb for describing things that are almost accomplished. If you and your brother nearly win the three-legged race, you lose by a matter of seconds. And, if you nearly drop your dog's leash at a busy intersection, your heart might pound from the closeness of your best pal's brush with danger. An interesting detail about nearly is that it nearly ended up with a different meaning: until the late 1600s, in fact, it meant "carefully."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Half of the 22 million motorcycles produced in China last year were exported, and nearly all brands are looking overseas.
From Barron's ● Aug. 9, 2026
Kim and her husband, Vladislav Bakalchuk, ran the company for nearly two decades, turning it into the country’s biggest online retailer.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026
Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto was nearly as effective, holding the Diamondbacks to three hits.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 9, 2026
Her son Nick, who is nearly 40, adds: "They just seemed completely overwhelmed, the hospitals. The wait times are huge so I'd rather they focus and spend money on fixing the NHS."
From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026
Gingersnipes’s eyes moved over all the parts of him he worked so hard to hide, and he very nearly regretted this decision.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
