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Synonyms

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.


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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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

    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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

preposition

  1. archaic next to

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
next More Idioms  

    More idioms and phrases containing next


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.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

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.

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.”

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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