I. ˈnekst, before a consonant “ or ˈneks adjective
Etymology: Middle English next, nexte, from Old English nēhst, nīehst, nȳhst, superl. of nēah, nēh nigh — more at nigh
1. : being the nearest : having nothing similar intervening: as
a. : adjoining in a series : immediately preceding or following in order (as of place, rank, relation, or time)
the next verse
the next house
is next in line
the next day
next Monday
b. : following that approaching or in progress
cannot go this Christmas, but I hope to go next
our next job will be clearing the land
c. : first in nearness without implication of succession or contiguity : first located, appearing, happening, or otherwise made relevant
his next neighbor was five miles away
2. archaic : most pressing, convenient, ready, direct, or available
3. slang
a. : aware of what is happening or planned
next to their schemes
b. : intimate , close
planned to be next to her to learn the scandal when it broke
4. of a suit in euchre : of the same color as the exposed or otherwise indicated suit
• next·ness noun -es
II. adverb
Etymology: Middle English next, nest, from Old English nīehst, nēhst, nȳhst next, last, nearly, superl. of nēah, nēh near, nigh — more at nigh
1. : in the time, place, or order nearest or immediately succeeding
next we drove home
: in next order (as of place, rank, relation, or time)
the next widest horizon he knew — C.S.Forester
my next newest dress
— compare near
2. : on the first occasion to come
when next we meet
III. preposition
Etymology: Middle English nexte, nest, from Old English nēahst, nēhst, nȳhst, from nīehst, nēhst, nȳhst, adverb
: nearest or adjacent to (as in place or order)
a mad dog … will fly upon and bite anyone that comes next him — Daniel Defoe
one next himself in power — John Milton