next

American  

[nekst] / nɛkst /

adjective

1. immediately following in time, order, importance, etc..

   the next day;

   the next person in line.

2. nearest or adjacent in place or position.

   the next room.

3. nearest in relationship or kinship.

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adverb

1. in the place, time, importance, etc., nearest or immediately following.

   We're going to London next.

   This is my next oldest daughter.

2. on the first occasion to follow.

   when next we meet.

preposition

1. adjacent to; nearest.

   It's in the closet next the blackboard.

idioms

1. next to,

   1. adjacent to.

      He sat next to his sister.

   2. almost; nearly.

      next to impossible.

   3. aside from.

      Next to cake, ice cream is my favorite dessert.

2. next door to,

   1. in an adjacent house, apartment, office, etc.; neighboring.

   2. in a position of proximity; near to.

      They are next door to poverty.

3. get next to (someone), to get into the favor or good graces of; become a good friend of.

next British  

/ nɛkst /

adjective

1. immediately following

   the next patient to be examined

   do it next week

2. immediately adjoining

   the next room

3. closest to in degree

   the tallest boy next to James

   the next-best thing

4. the one after the next

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adverb

1. at a time or on an occasion immediately to follow

   the patient to be examined next

   next, he started to unscrew the telephone receiver

2. 1. adjacent to; at or on one side of

      the house next to ours

   2. following in degree

      next to your mother, who do you love most?

   3. almost

      next to impossible

preposition

1. archaic next to

next More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing next

• cleanliness is next to godliness

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Etymology

Origin of next

First recorded before 900; Middle English next(e), Old English nēxt, nēhst, niehst “nighest,” superlative of nēah nigh ( see -est ¹); cognate with Icelandic nǣstr, German nächst; cf. near

Explanation

If you do one thing, and then something else right afterward, you do it next. If you hear a game show host scream, "Come on down, you’re the next contestant," then you better get to the stage! If you're standing in line for ice cream right behind the person ordering a large hot fudge sundae, you're next. Things happen next in terms of time when they occur immediately after: "First we'll eat the appetizer, and next we'll eat the entree." The Old English source is niehsta, "nearest or closest." Your "next door neighbor" lives in the house or apartment right beside yours.

Example Sentences

“It is scary and terrifying, because it makes you remember the 15 years of the occupation of the border villages and makes you worry more about the next phase” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 31, 2026

Many voters are still getting to know Becerra, who is the likeliest candidate to be California’s next governor.

From Los Angeles Times • May 31, 2026

Players are due to take part in a victory parade on Sunday afternoon, which includes touring the Champs de Mars next to the Eiffel Tower and a reception held by French President Emmanuel Macron.

From BBC • May 31, 2026

Military delegations from both countries held security talks in Washington on Friday, with more US-brokered negotiations planned next week.

From Barron's • May 31, 2026

The next step in realizing Pops’s dream is renovating the motel portion of the OldMill, but like Nate said, there’s no rush on that.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

Related Words

• afterward
• later