nearby

adverb or adjective

near·​by nir-ˈbī How to pronounce nearby (audio)
ˈnir-ˌbī
Synonyms of nearbynext
: close at hand

Synonyms of nearby

Relevance
See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of nearby in a Sentence

grabbed the nearby quilt and gently laid it over the sleeping child I'll be nearby if you need anything
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The force covers the area west of London that includes Windsor Castle and Mountbatten-Windsor’s former home nearby. — Danica Kirka, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2026 The Colorado River is nearby for those who want to go rafting, and Dead Horse Point State Park is about an hour away. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Oct. 2026 Recent sales of similar homes nearby can help show whether an assessment is out of line. — Elizabeth Jane Beckett-Camarata, The Conversation, 30 Oct. 2026 For Florida seniors managing complex health conditions, pharmacy access is about more than having a counter nearby. — L. Prather McKinnon, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for nearby

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nearby was in the 15th century

Rhymes for nearby

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Browse Nearby Words

near beer
nearby
near completion
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Cite this Entry

“Nearby.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nearby. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

nearby

adverb or adjective
near·​by ni(ə)r-ˈbī How to pronounce nearby (audio)
ˈni(ə)r-ˌbī
: close at hand
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