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 ( -est ¹ ); cognate with Icelandic nǣstr, German nächst; 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

Also Tuesday, Senate Banking Committee Chair Tim Scott said he believes the end of the probe is “getting closer and closer,” suggesting it could come “in the next few weeks.”

From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026

Over the next decade, rebellious colonists used ads to spread the word about boycotts on British products.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

The next big hope is from Big Tech earnings, kicking off later this month.

From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026

If you didn’t buy the maximum 12 tickets allowed, you’ll automatically be entered for the next ticket draw later this year.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026

One moment, it was afternoon, and the next, it was sunset, so I probably passed out.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Related Words

• afterward
• later