nearly

UK /ˈnɪːlɪj/ US /ˈnɪɹli/

adv 5

Definitions

adv

In close approximation; almost, virtually.

He left a nearly full beer on the bar.

I nearly didn't go to work yesterday.

With great scrutiny; carefully.

And whosoever hath traced mee and nearely [translating de pres] looked into my humours, Ile loose a good wager if hee confesse not that there is no rule in their schoole, could, a midde such crooked pathes and divers windings, square and report this naturall motion, and maintaine an apparance of liberty and licence so equall and inflexible […].

With close relation; intimately.

Let that which he learns next be nearly conjoined with what he knows already.

She could have joined most comfortably in all their supposings, and suspicions, and doubts, and prognostications, but the honour of the family was too nearly concerned to allow free reins to her tongue.

Closely, in close proximity.

I doubt some danger do's approach you neerely.

Stingily.

Collocations

ADJ.

all, full, high, instinctive, large, left, muddy, old

She had nearly all the information she needed to make a decision.

VERB + NEARLY

act, covers, shipped

The new shipping company nearly covers the entire region with their delivery routes.

NEARLY + NOUN

beer, creature, death, japanese, lunchtime, men, noon

We nearly had a disaster when the nearly beer went flat before the party started.

PREP.

down, in, on

The house is nearly down to the foundations after the demolition crew finished.

ADV.

twice

The population of that city has nearly doubled in the last ten years.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

adverb — (of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomp

adverb — in a close manner

closely
intimately

Antonyms

Idioms & Phrases

nearly never bulled a cow

Near enough is not good enough.

nearly man

A man who fails to achieve the success or status that he might potentially have had.

It was Harris's lot to be a nearly man: a man nearly educated, nearly employed, nearly criminal, but never really toppling the edges to be labelled. He had been nearly married, and

nearly never won the race

Near enough is not good enough.

Example Bank

He left a nearly full beer on the bar.

Wiktionary

I nearly didn't go to work yesterday.

Wiktionary

He was (so/very) nearly over the worst part of his college degree.

Wiktionary

When I ask people what they regret most about high school, they nearly all say the same thing: that they wasted so much time.

Tatoeba · #1815

You nearly poked me in the eye with your pencil.

Tatoeba · #16396

I nearly choked on a fishbone.

Tatoeba · #19357

Usage Notes

i Register

In some senses, nearly is marked as archaic. Watch for register when choosing this word.

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