nearly

adverb

near·​ly ˈnir-lē How to pronounce nearly (audio)
Synonyms of nearlynext
1
: in a close manner or relationship
nearly related
2
a
: almost but not quite
nearly identical
nearly a year later
b
: to the least extent
not nearly as good as we expected

Synonyms of nearly

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Examples of nearly in a Sentence

I see her nearly every day. We lived there for nearly two years. Nearly all of us got sick that weekend.
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.
For most players, nearly two years away from the majors would signal the end of the road. — Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026 Her timeless polo shirt looks nearly identical to this Quince one, which is made of soft, luxe cashmere. — Shea Simmons, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026 On the field between home plate and first base, a thermometer read nearly 97 degrees before the game. — Eva Andersen, CBS News, 2 July 2026 About two weeks later, however, the suspect returned to the same home at nearly the same time of day and was again captured on security camera. — Velvet Wu july 1, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for nearly

Word History

First Known Use

1561, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of nearly was in 1561

Phrases Containing nearly

Rhymes for nearly

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Browse Nearby Words

near-legged
nearly
nearly gave someone a heart attack
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Cite this Entry

“Nearly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nearly. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

nearly

adverb
near·​ly ˈni(ə)r-lē How to pronounce nearly (audio)
1
: in a close manner or relationship
nearly related
2
: almost but not quite
nearly the same
nearly missed the train
3
: to the least extent
not nearly enough

More from Merriam-Webster on nearly

Nglish: Translation of nearly for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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