near

adjective, adverb, preposition

UK /nɪə(r)/

Near can be used in the following ways:

as a preposition: I lived near the school.I’ll write and let you know nearer the time.

as an adverb: Come nearer, and I’ll tell you the whole story.

as an adjective: I went into the nearest room.A climb in the mountains led to near disaster.

in the preposition phrase near to: Pull your chair nearer to the table.

1
close to someone or something
A group of students were standing near the entrance.
The tornado destroyed two houses near Tulsa.
The shops are quite near.
I slept in the bed nearest the door.
They live in a small cottage 15 miles from the nearest village.
near to:
Rosa moved a little nearer to the fire.
Synonyms and related words
Next to, near to and not far away
local
close
nearly
1. 1a
  used for referring to the side of something that is the closest to where you are
  I got into the near side of the bed.
  Synonyms and related words
  Function words referring to location
  about
  across
  after
See alsonearside
2
getting close to a particular state or situation
near to:
Julian was near to panic as he suddenly realized that he was trapped.
People near to retirement need to know their pension funds are sufficient.
near to doing something:
They are near to solving the puzzle.
There were rumours that the 66-year-old leader was near death.
3
not long before a particular time or event
It was nearer three than two o’clock when he finally arrived.
I had no intention of making any decision until much nearer the time.
The incident occurred near the end of the war.
draw near:
The date of the election was drawing near.
Synonyms and related words
Before a time or event
before
first
early
4
very similar to something
What he’s saying now is near the truth, but it’s still not accurate.
near to:
My feelings were nearer to despair than disappointment.
Synonyms and related words
Similar and similarly
similar
like
comparable
5
only a little less than a particular amount or number
The temperature that day was near 30 degrees.
The loss was near 15 per cent for the year.
Synonyms and related words
Almost and almost not
almost
nearly
hardly

phrases

damned/damn near

from near and far

in the near future

near enough

someone’s nearest and dearest

someone’s nearest rival/challenger

a near relative/relation

a near thing

not go near

nowhere/not anywhere near

so near (and) yet so far

to the nearest pound/thousand etc

the nearest thing to something

near

adjective, adverb, preposition

US /nɪr/

Near can be used in the following ways:

as a preposition: I lived near the school.I’ll write and let you know nearer the time.

as an adverb: Come nearer, and I’ll tell you the whole story.

as an adjective: I went into the nearest room.A climb in the mountains led to near disaster.

in the preposition phrase near to: Pull your chair nearer to the table.

1
close to someone or something
A group of students were standing near the entrance.
The tornado destroyed two houses near Tulsa.
The supermarket is quite near.
I slept in the bed nearest the door.
They live on a ranch 15 miles from the nearest town.
near to:
Rosa moved a little nearer to the fire.
Synonyms and related words
Next to, near to and not far away
next to
near
close
1. 1a
  used for referring to the side of something that is the closest to where you are
  I got into the near side of the bed.
  Synonyms and related words
  Function words referring to location
  about
  across
  after
2
not long before a particular time or event
It was nearer three than two o’clock when he finally arrived.
I had no intention of making any decision until much nearer the time.
The incident occurred near the end of the war.
draw near:
The date of the election was drawing near.
Synonyms and related words
Before a time or event
before
first
early
3
very similar to something
What he’s saying now is near the truth, but it’s still not accurate.
near to:
My feelings were nearer to despair than disappointment.
Synonyms and related words
Similar and similarly
similar
like
comparable
4
only a little less than a particular amount or number
The temperature that day was near 100 degrees.
The loss was near 15 percent for the year.
Synonyms and related words
Almost and almost not
almost
nearly
hardly
5
getting close to a particular state or situation
near to:
Julian was near to panic as he suddenly realized that he was trapped.
People near to retirement need to know their savings are sufficient.
near to doing something:
They are near to solving the puzzle.
There were rumors that the 66-year-old leader was near death.

phrases

damned/damn near

from near and far

in the near future

near enough

someone’s nearest and dearest

someone’s nearest rival/challenger

the nearest thing to something

not go near

nowhere/not anywhere near

so near (and) yet so far

to the nearest dollar/thousand etc.

near

verb

UK /nɪə(r)/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	near
he/she/it	nears
present participle	nearing
past tense	neared
past participle	neared

1
transitive to come closer to a particular place
I woke up as the train neared the station.
Synonyms and related words
To move, or to move something towards a place
approach
make for
make towards
1. 1a
  to come closer to a particular time or stage
  Traffic problems become more common as the project nears completion.
  He was nearing 60.
  Months of negotiations between the two parties neared an end on Wednesday.
  Synonyms and related words
  Soon and as soon as possible
  soon
  shortly
  just
2
intransitive if a time or event nears, it gets closer
As election day neared, reports of new scandals began to appear in the press.
Synonyms and related words
Time passing
passing
go by
wear on

near

verb

US /nɪr/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	near
he/she/it	nears
present participle	nearing
past tense	neared
past participle	neared

1
transitive to come closer to a particular place
I woke up as the train neared the station.
Synonyms and related words
To move, or to move something towards a place
approach
make for
make toward
1. 1a
  to come closer to a particular time or stage
  Traffic problems become more common as the project nears completion.
  He was nearing 60.
  Months of negotiations between the two parties neared an end on Wednesday.
  Synonyms and related words
  Soon and as soon as possible
  soon
  shortly
  just
2
intransitive if a time or event nears, it gets closer
As election day neared, reports of new scandals began to appear in the press.
Synonyms and related words
Time passing
passing
go by
wear on

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