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

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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.
Ahn’s screen career stretched nearly seven decades, from his 1957 debut as a child actor through his later years as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and longtime member of the BIFF festival committee. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 20 Aug. 2026 In fact, nearly 90% of Georgia’s largest solar facilities in development or operation are in South Georgia, according to a recent AJC analysis. — Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 20 Aug. 2026 Jose Suarez Suarez spent nearly two decades working for Telemundo and NBC. — Chelsea Jones, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026 Merck last year sold nearly $32 billion worth of pembrolizumab, a drug that’s FDA-approved for more than 40 cancer conditions. — CNN Money, 19 Aug. 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 26 Aug. 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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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