Word forms: comparative nearer, superlative nearest, 3rd person singular presenttense nears, present participle nearing, past tense, past participle neared
1. preposition
If something is near a place, thing, or person, it is a short distance from them.
Don't come near me.
Her children went back every year to stay in a farmhouse near the cottage.
He drew his chair nearer the fire.
Some of the houses nearest the bridge were on fire.
Synonyms: close, alongside, next to, close by More Synonyms of near
Near is also an adverb.
He crouched as near to the door as he could. [+ to]
She took a step nearer to the barrier.
As we drew near, I saw that the boot lid was up.
Near is also an adjective.
He collapsed into the nearest chair.
Where's the nearest phone?
He went back into the bedroom, slipped into the nearer bed, and said goodnight.
The nearer of the two barges was perhaps a mile away.
nearnessuncountable noun [usually with poss]
He was suddenly aware of his nearness.
Synonyms: closeness, proximity, juxtaposition, contiguity More Synonyms of near
Synonyms: imminence, closeness, immediacy More Synonyms of near
Synonyms: intimacy, familiarity, dearness More Synonyms of near
Synonyms: meanness, parsimony [formal], stinginess, niggardliness More Synonyms of near
2. phrase
If someone or something is near to a particular state, they have almost reached it.
After the war, the company came near to bankruptcy.
The repairs to the machine were near to completion.
Apart from anything else, he comes near to contradicting himself.
Near means the same as near to.
He was near tears.
For almost a month he lay near death.
We are no nearer agreement now than in the past.
3. phrase
If something is similar to something else, you can say that it is near to it.
...a sickening sensation that was near to nausea.
Near means the same as near to.
Often her feelings were nearer hatred than love.
4. adjective
You describe the thing most similar to something as thenearest thing to it when there is no example of the thing itself.
It would appear that the legal profession is the nearest thing to a recession-proofindustry.
Catherine had been the nearest to a mother figure that Mary had known.
5. adverb [ADVERB after verb, beADVERB]
If a time or event draws near, it will happen soon.
[written]
The time for my departure from Japan was drawing nearer every day.
6. preposition
If something happens near a particular time, it happens just before or just after that time.
Performance is lowest between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m., and reaches a peak near midday.
He was near the end of his first year at university.
I'll tell you nearer the day.
7. preposition
You use near to say that something is a little more or less than an amount or number stated.
...to increase manufacturing from about 2.5 million cars a year to nearer 4.75 million.
The pound ended last year near its annual low.
8. preposition
You can say that someone will not gonear a person or thing when you are emphasizing that they refuse to see them or go there.
[emphasis]
He will absolutely not go near a hospital.
I'm so annoyed with her that I haven't been near her for a week.
9. adjective
Thenear one of two things is the one that is closer.
...a mighty beech tree on the near side of the little clearing.
Jane put one foot in the near stirrup and turned to look at the stranger.
10. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
You use near to indicate that something is almost the thing mentioned.
She was believed to have died in near poverty on the French Riviera.
...the 48-year-old who was brought in to rescue the bank from near collapse.
Near is also an adverb.
...his near fatal accident two years ago.
The picture beneath was near lifesize.
11. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
In a contest, your nearest rival or challenger is the person or team that is most likely to defeat you.
He completed the lengthy course some three seconds faster than his nearest rival,Jonathon Ford.
That victory put the Ukrainians beyond the reach of their nearest challengers, DynamoMoscow.
12. verb [no passive]
When you near a place, you get quite near to it.
[literary]
As he neared the stable, he slowed the horse and patted it on the neck. [VERB noun]
The horses hurried as they neared the end of the journey. [VERB noun]
13. verb [no passive]
When someone or something nears a particular stage or point, they will soon reach that stage or point.
His age was hard to guess–he must have been nearing fifty. [VERB noun]
You are nearing the end of your training and you haven't attempted any assessmentsyet. [VERB noun]
The project is taking a long time but is now nearing completion. [VERB noun]
14. verb
You say that an important time or event nears when it is going to occur quite soon.
[literary]
As half time neared, Hardyman almost scored twice. [VERB]
This factor will come increasingly to the fore as election day nears. [VERB]
15.
See nearest and dearest
16.
See near and far
17.
See in the near future
18.
See nowhere near/not anywhere near
19.
See near enough/as near as makes no difference/as near as dammit/damned near
20.
See as near as dammit/damned near
More Synonyms of near
English Easy Learning GrammarPrepositionsA preposition is one of a small but very common group of words that relate differentitems to each other. Most English prepositions have a number of meanings ... Read more
near in British English
(nɪə)
preposition
1.
at or to a place or time not far away from; close to
adverb
2.
at or to a place or time not far away; close by
3. near to
4. short for nearly
I was damn near killed
adjective
5.
at or in a place not far away
6. (postpositive)
not far away in time; imminent
departure time was near
7. (prenominal)
only just successful or only just failing
a near escape
8. (postpositive) informal
miserly, mean
9. (prenominal)
closely connected or intimate
a near relation
verb
10.
to come or draw close (to)
noun
11. Also called: nearside
a.
the left side of a horse, team of animals, vehicle, etc
b.
(as modifier)
the near foreleg
Derived forms
nearness (ˈnearness)
noun
Word origin
Old English nēar (adv), comparative of nēah close, nigh; related to Old Frisian niār, Old Norse nǣr, Old High German nāhōr
near- in British English
combining form
nearly; almost
a near-perfect landing
near in American English
(nɪr)
adverb
1.
at or to a relatively short distance in space or time
summer draws near
2.
relatively close in degree; almost
now usually nearly
near right
3.
closely; intimately
4. Rare
in a stingy manner
adjective
5.
close in distance or time; not far
6.
close in relationship; akin
7.
close in feelings, desires, etc.; close in friendship
8.
a.
close in degree; narrow
a near escape
b.
almost happening
a near accident
9.
on the left side, facing forward
said of an animal in double harness, a wagon wheel, etc. see also off1
10.
short or direct
take the near way
11.
stingy; niggardly
12.
somewhat resembling; approximating
a near likeness
preposition
13.
at a relatively short distance from in space, time, degree, etc.; close to
towns near the border, the hours near midnight
verb transitive, verb intransitive
14.
to come or draw near (to); approach
Idioms:
near at hand
Derived forms
nearness (ˈnearness)
noun
Word origin
ME nere < ON & OE: ON nær, near (orig. compar. of nā-): OE near, nearer, compar. of neah, nigh
More idioms containing
near
near the knuckle
so near and yet so far
Examples of 'near' in a sentence
near
His arm muscles were shaking hard as he neared the safe point.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There was one cinema near us that did two double bills a week.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There are so many ways to beat boredom without going near a slots game of any sort.
The Sun (2016)
He has yet to receive a reply and meanwhile the building nears completion.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The dismay is near universal but appears to be impotent.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They run independently but near enough for her to recognise him.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
At sporadic intervals, we hear helicopter and speedboat engines humming above and near our little creek fortress.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Brunt, following in, despatched a meaty drive into the far corner from near the edge of the area.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Wales should have added at least one try near the end.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The six inhabitants now live near by with relatives.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Nobody seemed willing to go near him.
The Sun (2009)
It was important we won and closed the gap near the top a little.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The same fabric is found on a slipper chair that sits near an oversized painted wardrobe.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The resort grew despite moments of near bankruptcy.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
One of your goals is near completion and could have positive financial implications.
The Sun (2015)
She felt more than a little apprehensive coming near him.
Kathleen E. Woodiwiss THE WOLF AND THE DOVE
There have been moments when the two appeared near divorce.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Yet those contests seem no nearer to happening.
The Sun (2010)
That performance was nowhere near good enough.
The Sun (2014)
This draft policy goes nowhere near far enough to exclude any potential financial benefit.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
This chest was found quite near where the ships went down.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The need to be near a lavatory put an end to his social life.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The money we have spent is nowhere near the top four or five but we are here to compete.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Heat gently until it is slightly hotter than drinking temperature, but nowhere near boiling point.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
In other languages
near
British English: near /nɪə/ ADJECTIVE
Near means at or in a place not far away.
He chose the nearest chair.
American English: near
Arabic: قَرِيبٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: próximo
Chinese: 靠进的
Croatian: blizak
Czech: blízký
Danish: nær
Dutch: dichtbij
European Spanish: cercano espacio
Finnish: lähi-
French: proche
German: nahe
Greek: κοντινός
Italian: vicino
Japanese: 近い
Korean: 가까운
Norwegian: nær
Polish: bliski
European Portuguese: próximo
Romanian: apropiat
Russian: ближний
Latin American Spanish: cercano
Swedish: nära
Thai: ใกล้
Turkish: yakın
Ukrainian: близький
Vietnamese: gần
British English: near /nɪə/ ADVERB
Near means at or to a place not far away.
He sat as near to the door as he could.
American English: near
Arabic: قَرِيبٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: perto
Chinese: 近
Croatian: blizu
Czech: blízko
Danish: nær
Dutch: dichtbij
European Spanish: cerca espacio
Finnish: lähellä
French: près
German: nahe
Greek: κοντά
Italian: vicino
Japanese: 近くに
Korean: 가까이
Norwegian: nær
Polish: blisko
European Portuguese: perto
Romanian: aproape
Russian: близко
Latin American Spanish: cerca
Swedish: nära
Thai: ใกล้
Turkish: yakınında
Ukrainian: близько
Vietnamese: gần
British English: near /nɪə/ PREPOSITION
If something is near a place, thing, or person, it is not far away from them.
We are very near my house.
American English: near
Arabic: بِالْقُرْبِ مِنَ
Brazilian Portuguese: perto de
Chinese: 在...近旁
Croatian: blizu
Czech: u
Danish: nær
Dutch: dichtbij
European Spanish: cerca de
Finnish: lähellä
French: près de
German: nahe
Greek: κοντά σε
Italian: vicino
Japanese: ･･･の近くに
Korean: ...가까이에
Norwegian: nesten
Polish: blisko
European Portuguese: perto de
Romanian: lângă
Russian: около
Latin American Spanish: cerca de
Swedish: nära
Thai: ใกล้
Turkish: bitişik
Ukrainian: біля
Vietnamese: ở gần
Chinese translation of 'near'
near
(nɪəʳ)
adj
(physically, in time) 近的 (jìn de)
⇒ Christmas is quite near now.圣诞节很近了。 (Shèngdàn Jié hěn jìn le.)
(= not complete)[darkness, tragedy]几(幾)乎 (jīhū)
⇒ We were sitting in near darkness.我们几乎是在黑暗中坐着。 (Wǒmen jīhū shì zài hēi'àn zhōng zuòzhe.)
adv
(= close) 近 (jìn)
⇒ He must live quite near.他一定住得很近。 (Tā yīdìng zhù de hěn jìn.)