nowhere near

phrase

1
: not at all near to
We were nowhere near a hospital.
2
informal : not at all : not nearly
Their house is nowhere near as nice as yours.
That is nowhere near enough water.
The house is nowhere near finished.

Examples of nowhere near in a Sentence

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.
Lebanon’s army is nowhere near strong enough to impose its will on Hezbollah by force. — Ned Temko, Christian Science Monitor, 1 July 2026 The Constitution moved America toward majority rule, though nowhere near far enough. — Max Taves, Mercury News, 3 July 2026 Amiable enough but nowhere near as charming as its cinematic predecessor, the new series does as much to highlight the limits of the Legally Blonde concept as its adaptability. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019 The adaptation of Sachar’s middle-grade classic—in which one Stanley Yelnats IV is sent to a detention camp where he is forced to dig a hole every day—is nowhere near as good as the book. — Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for nowhere near

Rhymes for nowhere near

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Browse Nearby Words

nowhere
nowhere near
nowheres
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Cite this Entry

“Nowhere near.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nowhere%20near. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

nowhere near

adverb
: not nearly
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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