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; 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

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

Honey Cooper catches up on reading at home in the afternoon between elementary school and her college nigh class.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 6, 2026

When Max looked like her end was nigh, hearing Running Up That Hill by Kate Bush tethered her to reality, keeping her alive.

From BBC ● Dec. 23, 2025

“A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand—but it ain’t going to come nigh thee. So glad, amen, this morning, bless my Redeemer.”

From "Go Tell It on the Mountain" by James Baldwin

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

Gliding over this flat surface on one’s snow-shoes almost reaches the ideal; land and home are nigher, and as one goes along one’s thoughts fly southward to everything that is beautiful.

From Farthest North Being the Record of a Voyage of Exploration of the Ship 'Fram' 1893-1896 by Nansen, Fridtjof

"Sure she was nigher to heaven's spheres, Listening the lordly music flowing from The illimitable years."

From Six Centuries of English Poetry Tennyson to Chaucer by Baldwin, James

The tone was angry and imperious on both sides, and, in intense eagerness, O'Shea drew nigher and nigher.

From One Of Them by Lever, Charles James

It is probable she was blown off from Madagascar by the violent northerly winds; that being the nighest land to us, though distance near 150 leagues.

From A Continuation of a Voyage to New Holland by Dampier, William

I can't tell what's the thought comes nighest to ye when we look at him.

From Cape Cod Folks by Greene, Sarah P. McLean

She taketh Perceval by the hand and leadeth him to the windows of the hall that were nighest the sea.

From The High History of the Holy Graal by Evans, Sebastian

His crescent light, the first and nighest God, 80 Shall ne'er grow dim.

From Vondel's Lucifer by Vondel, Joost van den

Work for the good that is nighest; Dream not of greatness afar: That glory is ever the highest Which shines upon men as they are.

From Architects of Fate or, Steps to Success and Power by Marden, Orison Swett