nears

verb

present tense third-person singular of near
1
as in closes
to come near or nearer as the procession nears, you'll be able to take a better picture of the graduates

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in approaches
to move closer to as we near the church, you'll be able to see the bas-relief sculptures better

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of nears Election Day nears The stakes are high as the race Marshall was supposed to win handily is now neck-and-neck, according to recent polling. — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2026 The Dream, meanwhile, are trying to bring some sporting pride to a city that so often has been also-rans or nowhere-nears. — Don Riddell, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2026 Part of the challenge is diminishing returns on ads as Election Day nears. — Luke Fountain, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026 As a comet nears the sun, frozen material on its surface turns directly into gas, a process known as sublimation. — Joe Rao, Space.com, 16 Oct. 2026 The two remained locked in a tight race as early voting nears with Talarico having a slight edge in most polls. — Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 15 Oct. 2026 This was the first of many in-person sessions the organization plans to hold as Election Day nears. — Ashley Lopez, NPR, 14 Oct. 2026 As the peak nears, price increases both accelerate and become more volatile as doubt begins to gnaw at the edges of the frenzy. — Ruchir Sharma, Foreign Affairs, 13 Oct. 2026 While most Black voters tend to support the Democratic Party, a considerable number remain unaligned, making their support crucial as Election Day nears. — Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nears
  1. closes
  2. approaches
  3. comes
  4. enters
Verb
  • Too much dependence on one shipping lane means that when a corridor closes, there may be no fallback.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026
  • More than 90 people will be laid off this winter when a snack manufacturing facility in Catawba County closes its doors.
    — Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of closes
Verb
  • As El Gouna approaches its 10th edition, Shawky says the next step is strengthening CineGouna’s international presence and developing more year-round activity beyond the annual festival.
    — Essie Assibu, Variety, 23 Oct. 2026
  • General view of tourists taking selfies at North Bund in Shanghai, China, as Typhoon Dolphin approaches the country.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of approaches
Verb
  • The local chapter voted to endorse Raman last month, and with that comes teams of eager doorknockers canvassing for her across the city.
    — Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The collision comes months after Independence police tightened restrictions on high-speed pursuits after years of scrutiny over the department's driving practices.
    — Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of comes
Verb
  • The Sun enters your 12th House, drawing your attention toward rest, reflection, privacy, unfinished matters, and everything easier to hear when the outside world becomes less demanding.
    — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The company enters a specialized market with a domestic supply problem.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of enters

Browse Nearby Words

nearness
nears
nearshore
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nears.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nears. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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