nigh

American  

[nahy] / naɪ /

adverb

1. near in space, time, or relation.

   The time draws nigh.

2. nearly; almost; (often followed by on oronto ).

   nigh onto twenty years.

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adjective

nigher, nighest

1. near; approaching.

   Evening is nigh.

2. short or direct.

   to take the nighest route.

3. (of an animal or vehicle) being on the left side.

   to be astride the nigh horse.

4. Archaic. parsimonious; stingy.

preposition

1. near.

verb (used with or without object)

1. Archaic. to approach.

nigh British  

/ naɪ /

adjective

1. an archaic, poetic, or dialect word for near

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Other Word Forms

• unnigh adjective

Etymology

Origin of nigh

before 900; Middle English nigh ( e ), neye, Old English nēah, nēh, cognate with Dutch na, German nahe, Old Norse nā-, Gothic nehw, nehwa; near, next

Example Sentences

Pancaking is when a female eagle lies down flat in the bowl of the nest to test and shape it — and can signal eggs are nigh.

From Los Angeles Times

Most investors fret the end is nigh, and they often panic out of positions, as witnessed during recent weakness.

From Barron's

"He's like a wounded wildebeest: fatally wounded but determined to show how strong he is knowing full well the end is nigh," said a third.

From BBC

Careful as we may be to steer around most of these pits, it’s nigh impossible to avoid all of them.

From Salon

His succession is nigh, hence the opposition has every reason to raise pressure and demand structural concessions.

From Barron's