Near Definition

nîr
neared, nearest, nearing, nears
adverb
At or to a relatively short distance in space or time.
Summer draws near.
Webster's New World
Just about; almost; nearly.
Was near exhausted from the climb.
American Heritage
Relatively close in degree; almost.
Near right.
Webster's New World
Closely; intimately.
Webster's New World
In a stingy manner.
Webster's New World
Antonyms:
adjective
nearest
Close in distance or time; not far.
Webster's New World
Close in relationship; akin.
Webster's New World
Closely related by kinship or association; intimate.
A near relative; a near and dear friend.
American Heritage
Close in feelings, desires, etc.; close in friendship.
Webster's New World
Just barely avoided.
A near hit by the incendiary bomb.
American Heritage
preposition
At a relatively short distance from in space, time, degree, etc.; close to.
Towns near the border, the hours near midnight.
Webster's New World
Close to.
An inn near London.
American Heritage
verb
neared, nearing, nears
To come close or closer to.
The plane neared the terminal.
American Heritage
To come or draw near (to); approach.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
noun

The left side of a horse or of a team of horses pulling a carriage etc.

Wiktionary
idiom
near at hand
  • very close in time or space
Webster's New World

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Near

  • near at hand

Origin of Near

  • From Middle English nere, ner, from Old English nÄ“ar (“nearer", comparative of nÄ“ah, "nigh"), influenced by Old Norse nÇ£r (“near"), both originating from Proto-Germanic *nÄ“hwiz (“nearer"), comparative of the adverb *nÄ“hw (“near"). Cognate with Old Frisian niār (“nearer"), Dutch naar (“to, towards"), Old High German nāhōr (“nearer"), Danish nÃ¥r (“when"), Swedish när (“when").

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English ner from Old English nēar from comparative of nēah close, near

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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