nearby

adverb or adjective

near·​by nir-ˈbī How to pronounce nearby (audio)
ˈnir-ˌbī
Synonyms of nearbynext
: close at hand

Synonyms of nearby

Relevance
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Examples of nearby in a Sentence

grabbed the nearby quilt and gently laid it over the sleeping child I'll be nearby if you need anything
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.
The floodwaters swept him away, and his body was found three days later, said his niece Priyakshi Gogoi, who lives nearby. — ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026 Val’s introduction come by way of a carjacking that sees Sugar’s baby blue 1966 Chevrolet Corvette stolen and then quickly and conveniently retrieved by Val, who just so happens to be standing nearby when the theft happened. — Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2026 In the first four months, all three store openings reduced nearby online net revenue—online purchases minus returns—by roughly 8% to 11%. — Ayşe Çetinel, Harvard Business Review, 18 Aug. 2026 Shortly afterward, children playing nearby found Lopez’s body. — Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for nearby

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nearby was in the 15th century

Rhymes for nearby

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Browse Nearby Words

near beer
nearby
near completion
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Cite this Entry

“Nearby.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nearby. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

nearby

adverb or adjective
near·​by ni(ə)r-ˈbī How to pronounce nearby (audio)
ˈni(ə)r-ˌbī
: close at hand

More from Merriam-Webster on nearby

Nglish: Translation of nearby for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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