Near
WordNet
adjective
(1) Not far distant in time or space or degree or circumstances
"Near neighbors"
"In the near future"
"They are near equals"
"His nearest approach to success"
"A very near thing"
"A near hit by the bomb"
"She was near tears"
"She was close to tears"
"Had a close call"
(2) Very close in resemblance
"Sketched in an approximate likeness"
"A near likeness"
(3) With or in a close or intimate relationship
"A good friend"
"My sisters and brothers are near and dear"
(4) Giving or spending with reluctance
"Our cheeseparing administration"
"Very close (or near) with his money"
"A penny-pinching miserly old man"
(5) Closely resembling the genuine article
"Near beer"
"A dress of near satin"
adverb
(6) (of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished
"The job is (just) about done"
"The baby was almost asleep when the alarm sounded"
"We're almost finished"
"The car all but ran her down"
"He nearly fainted"
"Talked for nigh onto 2 hours"
"The recording is well-nigh perfect"
"Virtually all the parties signed the contract"
"I was near exhausted by the run"
"Most everyone agrees"
(7) Near in time or place or relationship
"As the wedding day drew near"
"Stood near the door"
"Don't shoot until they come near"
"Getting near to the true explanation"
"Her mother is always near"
"The end draws nigh"
"The bullet didn't come close"
"Don't get too close to the fire"
verb
(8) Move towards
"We were approaching our destination"
"They are drawing near"
"The enemy army came nearer and nearer"
WiktionaryText
Adjective
- physically close.
- approaching
- The end is near.
Adverb
- Having a small intervening distance with regard to something.
- I'm near sighted.
- nearly
- 1666 Samuel Pepys Diary and Correspondence (1867)
- ...he hears for certain that the Queen-Mother is about and hath near finished a peace with France....
- 1825 David Hume, Tobias George Smollett The History of England p. 263
- Sir John Friend had very near completed a regiment of horse.
- 2003 Owen Parry Honor's Kingdom p. 365
- Thinking about those pounds and pence, I near forgot my wound.
- 2004 Jimmy Buffett A Salty Piece of Land p. 315, p. 35
- "I damn near forgot." He pulled an envelope from his jacket.
- 2006 Juliet Marillier The Dark Mirror p. 377
- The fire was almost dead, the chamber near dark.
- 1666 Samuel Pepys Diary and Correspondence (1867)