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 As the season nears, that leaves Jayden Ross still standing, and on the verge of thriving and leading, to carry the banner for his classmates on the court as a UConn senior. — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 16 Aug. 2026 As All In London nears, the latest episode of AEW Dynamite aired on Wednesday, August 12, from Las Vegas to showcase the latest build. — Rob Wolkenbrod, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026 Some Inglewood business owners are voicing their opinions as a city plan to tear down their shopping center to build a transit connector nears. — Lauren Pozen, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026 Atlas nears industry Recent reports suggest that Atlas is moving closer to industrial deployment as advances in AI, simulation, and robotic hardware improve its ability to learn, adapt, and perform complex physical tasks. — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 10 Aug. 2026 As the Texas high school football season nears, the majority of the state will follow a familiar schedule. — Charles Baggarly august 6, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Aug. 2026 Ragtime hit close to $2 million as the best musical revival winner nears the end of its run. — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 4 Aug. 2026 Things have a way of coming to a head as a season of television nears its conclusion. — Brian Grubb, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026 As pumpkin spice latte season nears, here's what to know about Dairy Queen's latest fall treat. — Greta Cross, USA Today, 3 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nears
  1. closes
  2. approaches
  3. comes
  4. enters
Verb
  • This bout ran on the early preliminary card, hours before the main card that closes the night.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
  • While a reserve left-back remains on the club’s shopping list before the window closes, James Justin has proved an able deputy over the past 12 months.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of closes
Verb
  • Visitors are advised to keep at least 50 meters (164 feet) away from the deer, never feed or touch them and if one approaches you to put food and packaging out of sight and move away slowly and calmly.
    — Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Once there, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, Sven, and Olaf watch as the butterfly approaches the outstretched hand of a woman whose face is obscured, before the ominous presence crushes it in her hands.
    — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of approaches
Verb
  • Each unit comes equipped with a flat-screen TV (screencast only), a Bluetooth audio system, and heating and air conditioning.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The attack comes just days before fall classes begin at the historically Black university, unsettling students who had recently moved into residence halls and completed freshman orientation events.
    — Patrick Whittle, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of comes
Verb
  • Scottie Scheffler enters the playoffs as the FedEx Cup points leader, nearly 800 points ahead of second-place Matt Fitzpatrick.
    — Tim Corlett, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The issue is that the polyphagous shot hole-borer never enters its host’s home without a plus one.
    — Jack Bantock, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 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 20 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on nears

Nglish: Translation of nears for Spanish Speakers

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