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

Relevance
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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.
In August 2021, Qatar signed another agreement committing $40 million to a cash assistance program that would give nearly 100,000 Palestinian households $100 per month for four months. — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 18 Oct. 2026 The latest consumer price index showed heating oil in September was up 74% from a year ago, nearly double the jump in gasoline, just as residents start filling their tanks for winter. — Jordan Blum, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026 Reduce Sugar Load From Pomegranate Juice At 32 grams per serving, pomegranate juice contains nearly four times as much sugar as tomato juice. — Md Published, Verywell Health, 17 Oct. 2026 After about a decade, the chaparral reaches nearly the same density as before the blaze, fire ecologists say. — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 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 20 Oct. 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
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