NEXT


Meaning of NEXT in English

/ nekst; NAmE / adjective , adverb , noun

■ adjective [ only before noun ]

1.

(usually with the ) coming straight after sb/sth in time, order or space :

The next train to Baltimore is at ten.

The next six months will be the hardest.

the next chapter

Who's next?

the woman in the next room

I fainted and the next thing I knew I was in the hospital.

( informal )

Round here, you leave school at sixteen and next thing you know , you're married with three kids.

2.

(used without the ) next Monday, week, summer, year, etc. the Monday, week, etc. immediately following :

Next Thursday is 12 April.

Next time I'll bring a book.

IDIOMS

- the next man, woman, person, etc.

—more at day , luck noun

■ adverb

1.

after sth else; then; afterwards :

What happened next?

Next, I heard the sound of voices.

2.

next best, biggest, most important, etc. ... (after / to sb/sth) following in the order mentioned :

Jo was the next oldest after Martin.

The next best thing to flying is gliding.

3.

used in questions to express surprise or confusion :

You're going bungee jumping? Whatever next ?

■ noun

(usually the next ) [ sing. ] a person or thing that is next :

One moment he wasn't there, the next he was.

the week after next

••

WHICH WORD

next / nearest

( The ) next means 'after this/that one' in time or in a series of events, places or people:

When is your next appointment?

Turn left at the next traffic lights.

Who's next?

( The ) nearest means 'closest' in space:

Where's the nearest supermarket?

Notice the difference between the prepositions nearest to and next to :

Janet's sitting nearest to the window (= of all the people in the room)

.

Sarah's sitting next to the window (= right beside it)

. In informal BrE nearest can be used instead of nearest to :

Who's sitting nearest the door?

••

WORD ORIGIN

Old English nēhsta nearest , superlative of nēah nigh ; compare with Dutch naast and German nächste .

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.