almost 1 of 2

adverb

ˈȯl-ˌmōst How to pronounce almost (audio)
Definition of almostnext
as in nearly
very close to but not completely we were almost finished with dinner when an unexpected visitor showed up there were almost enough seats for everybody on the bus

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

almost

2 of 2

adjective

as in relative
being such only when compared to something else burdened with impossibly high expectations, the movie came to be regarded as an almost failure

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 almost
Adverb
One study of almost 200 atolls estimated that seabirds brought more than 100,000 pounds of nitrogen back to land. — Lauren Sommer, NPR, 13 Oct. 2026 This is one of those projects that’s now almost too easy not to try. — New Atlas, 13 Oct. 2026
Adjective
That also means its almost time for clocks to fall back. — Dina Kaur, AZCentral.com, 25 Oct. 2025 Orange County has paid more than $39 million worth of settlements in the almost year since the Airport fire broke out and destroyed more than 100 structures, according to county officials. — Michael Slaten, Oc Register, 20 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for almost
Recent Examples of Synonyms for almost
  1. nearly
  2. relative
  3. practically
  4. virtually
  5. fairly
Adverb
  • Emily Hargreaves, who has been at Multitude for nearly a decade, continues to lead the personal PR biz including Dyer, Adefope and Latif.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Atlas assembly overhaul The company released a nearly six-minute video showing how its manufacturing processes support rapid hardware development, letting engineers move from design changes to physical components and assembled robots faster.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of nearly
Adjective
  • The fighting has revived Yemen’s civil war after four years of relative calm.
    — Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The midday reversal came as equities sold off, with the S&P 500 dropping more than 1%, leading some investors to rotate back into the relative safety of the bond market.
    — Michelle Fox,Sean Conlon,Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of relative
Adverb
  • Remember the old Popeye and spinach routine, where the squinty-eyed sailor scarfs down a can of leafy greens and his muscles practically burst out of his shirt?
    — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The chase for a third consecutive World Series championship is historically and essentially and practically kaput.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of practically
Adverb
  • The result was 90% of farmers in the country living in poverty with virtually all of them drinking unclean water.
    — Adam Duxter, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Little League is something of a rite of passage for young boys, and virtually every town in America has a baseball field.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of virtually
Adverb
  • Colonial and Cape Cod-style clapboard homes, with shutters and dormer windows, sit fairly close together.
    — Jennifer Ludden, NPR, 13 Oct. 2026
  • When the semis fall like this, according to Cramer, the drop usually lasts fairly long.
    — Jason Gewirtz, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of fairly

Browse Nearby Words

almoners
almost
alms
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Almost.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/almost. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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