/ 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.
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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.
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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 .