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.

---

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

---

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; cf. near, next

---

Explanation

Nigh is an old-fashioned word that can be used as an adjective or adverb to mean near or nearly. Something that is nigh impossible — like knitting a sweater in one night — will be very difficult to accomplish. As an adjective, nigh is an older form of the word "near," both of which are rooted in the Old English word neah. People like to use the word nigh when they talk about the apocalypse: "Repent! The end is nigh." It's most common to use nigh today when you're trying to sound poetic or referencing the archaic or biblical uses of the word.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

nigh nigher nighest

But when the bulls start reporting that massive stock gambling by the retail public, using levered ETFs, are a reason to be bullish, you have to start wondering if the end is nigh.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 27, 2026

You know the end of summer is nigh when Vail Resorts announces opening dates for its ski resorts.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

If you live in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle or any city with a high population of Burning Man devotees, it’s nigh impossible for “The Man Will Burn” to be a prejudice-free viewing experience.

From Salon ● Jul. 24, 2026

Or, the end of this Supreme Court term is nigh, at least.

From Slate ● Jun. 29, 2026

But even if they wanted to share the particulars of the days toil, finding someone outside of Langley who understood what they were talking about would have been well nigh impossible.

From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly

Or the end of the Anthropocene might be nigher than you think.

From New York Times ● Apr. 25, 2022

“That’s nigher where it is,” said Joe; “she ain’t living.”

From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens

I do’no—I really do’no but I’d like that knoll t’other side the river just as well, though, and it would be nigher the spring.

From Two Wyoming Girls and Their Homestead Claim A Story for Girls by Carrie L. Marshall

"There's none nigher than Oxford," said Mrs Nutt.

From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 56, Number 350, December 1844 by Various

"No, there is none nigher than Davis Creek, three miles from here."

From Four Years A Scout and Spy by E. C. Downs

It is the nighest, and Miss Clara cares little for rough roads.

From St. Ronan's Well by Sir Walter Scott

Then, after a while, she sent for Sir Bors de Ganis, who was the nighest of kin to Sir Launcelot of all those then at court.

From The Story of Sir Launcelot and His Companions by Howard Pyle

There's another at the end nighest Guernsey, but it's not easy.

From A Maid of the Silver Sea by John Oxenham

I remember the voyage for Cap'n Mary's sake, but most I remember it because 'twas then that I come the nighest in my life to committin' matrimony.

From Friend Island by Francis Stevens

King Harald’s son Magnus steered the ship which lay lowest in the river-mouth and nighest out to the lake.

From The Sagas of Olaf Tryggvason and of Harald The Tyrant (Harald Haardraade) by Ethel Harriet Hearn

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---