I. adverb
Etymology: Middle English ner, nere, from Old English nēar — more at near II
obsolete : nearer
II. ˈni(ə)r, -iə adverb
( -er/-est )
Etymology: Middle English ner, nere, partly from ner, nere nearer, from Old English nēar, comparative of nēah nigh; partly from Old Norse nær nearer, near, comp. of nā- near — more at nigh
1. : at, within, or to a short distance
don't shoot until they come near
or a short time
sunset was drawing near
getting nearer to the true explanation
2. : within little : almost , nearly
near exhausted by the heat
dark brown coming near to black
not near so many
came near to being the best speller in the class
3.
a. : closely
copy it as near as you can
near -related terms
near -actual mock battle
b. : intimately
near allied unto the duke — Shakespeare
4. : thriftily , stingily
III. preposition
Etymology: Middle English ner, nere, from ner, nere adverb
: not far distant from especially in place, time, or degree : close to
bombs fell near the building
several beaches near the city
came home near midnight
seemed to be near death
was in a state near collapse
IV. adjective
( -er/-est )
Etymology: Middle English ner, nere, from ner, nere, adverb
1.
a. : closely akin
near relative
b. : closely or intimately related or associated
near relations
near affairs
his nearest and dearest friend
2.
a. : not far distant in time, place, or degree
in the near future
his nearest approach to success
: adjacent , nigh
saw only his nearest neighbors
hunting rabbits in the near fields
b. : that barely avoids, passes, or misses
near disaster
near miracle
: close , narrow
he won the match but it was a very near thing
3.
a. : being the closer of two
near side of the mountain
— opposed to far
b. : being the left-hand one of a pair
near horse
near hind foot
near wheel of a cart
— opposed to off
4. : direct , short — used chiefly in the comparative or superlative
four miles by the nearest road
5. : closefisted , parsimonious , stingy
6.
a. : closely resembling or following
a version very near the original
b. : approaching closely in extent or degree
near equivalent
the nearest thing to perfect happiness
c. : approximating the genuine
near silk
— often used in combination
near -antique
V. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: near (II)
intransitive verb
: to come closer in space or time
every year when the baseball season nears
transitive verb
: to draw near to : approach
ship was nearing the dock
VI.
variant of neer