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

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

Chris Sutton: There's no doubt the pressure will be on Maresca from the off, and replacing Rodri is nigh on impossible.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

After another long stretch of unrelenting news, the weekend is finally nigh.

From Slate ● Aug. 7, 2026

After all, it’s a formula that has worked for nigh on six decades.

From Salon ● Jul. 13, 2026

Already the closing hour was drawing nigh, and the red sun had gone behind Mindolluin.

From "The Return of the King" by J.R.R. Tolkien

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

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

From One Of Them by Charles James Lever

Heed not the starveling crew, who hang Upon the blue Ohio, A craven heart each traitor bears, And dare not venture nigher.

From Songs and Ballads of the Southern People 1861-1865 by Anonymous

For the dark mysterious thing, still drawing nigher and nearer, seemed some unearthly monster—a hydra approaching to destroy them.

From No Quarter! by Mayne Reid

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

God is the highest, The greatest, the nighest, Gracious is ever, Is changeable never, Of all our treasures the noblest is He.

From Paul Gerhardt's Spiritual Songs Translated by John Kelly by Paul Gerhardt

Every one," says Coverdale, "doth his best to be nighest to the mark.

From Early Theories of Translation by Flora Ross Amos

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 William Dampier

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