near

/ˈnɪər/
/nɪə/
IPA guide

Other forms: nearest; neared; nearing; nears

Things that are near are close by or recent. From far away, a hawk might look like a speck in the sky, but when it comes near, you can see how enormous and beautiful it is.

When you stand near the food at a party, you're very close to it. When the time for your dentist appointment draws near, it's happening soon. If you find yourself near tears watching a sad movie, you're just about to cry. And, if your backpack is a near match to your friend's, you probably accidentally grab each other's bags all the time, since they resemble each other so closely.

Definitions of near
  1. adverb
    near in time or place or relationship
    “as the wedding day drew near”
    “stood near the door”
    “getting near to the true explanation”
    “her mother is always near”
    synonyms: close, nigh
  2. adverb
    (of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
    “I was near exhausted by the run”
    synonyms: about, almost, most, nearly, nigh, virtually, well-nigh
  3. adjective
    not far distant in time or space or degree or circumstances
    “near neighbors”
    “in the near future”
    “they are near equals”
    “a very near thing”
    “she was near tears”
    synonyms: close, nigh
    adjacent
    near or close to but not necessarily touching
    nearby
    close at hand
    warm
    of a seeker; near to the object sought
    hot
    of a seeker; very near to the object sought
    see moresee less
    antonyms:
    far
    located at a great distance in time or space or degree
    cold
    of a seeker; far from the object sought
    distant, remote
    located far away spatially
    distant, remote, removed
    separate or apart in time, space, or character
    far-off, faraway
    very far away in space or time
    farther
    more distant in especially space or time
    farthermost, farthest, furthermost, furthest, utmost, uttermost
    (comparatives of `far') most remote in space or time or order
    farther, further
    more distant in especially degree
    off the beaten track, out-of-the-way
    remote from populous or much-traveled regions
    outlying
    relatively far from a center or middle
    show more antonyms...
  4. adjective
    very close in resemblance
    “a near likeness”
    synonyms: approximate
    close
    close in relevance or relationship
  5. adjective
    closely resembling the genuine article
    “a dress of near satin”
    synonyms:
    artificial, unreal
    contrived by art rather than nature
  6. adjective
    with or in a close or intimate relationship
    synonyms: dear, good
    close
    close in relevance or relationship
  7. verb
    move towards
    synonyms: approach, come near, come on, draw close, draw near, go up
    approach, come near
    come near in time
    see moresee less
    types:
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    drive up
    approach while driving
    bear down on, bear down upon
    sail towards another vessel, of a ship
    edge in, edge up
    push one's way into (a space)
    close
    draw near
    crowd, push
    approach a certain age or speed
    type of:
    come, come up
    move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
  8. adjective
    giving or spending with reluctance
    synonyms: cheeseparing, close, penny-pinching, skinny
    stingy, ungenerous
    unwilling to spend
  9. adjective
    being on the left side
    “the near or nigh horse is the one on the left”
    “the animal's left side is its near or nigh side”
    synonyms: nigh
    left
    being or located on or directed toward the side of the body to the west when facing north
Pronunciation
US
/ˈnɪər/
UK
/nɪə/
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘near'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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