next

1 of 4

adjective

ˈnekst 

1

: immediately adjacent (as in place, rank, or time)

2

: any other considered hypothetically

knew it as well as the next man

see also next to nothing

next

2 of 4

preposition

: nearest or adjacent to

next

3 of 4

adverb

1

: in the time, place, or order nearest or immediately succeeding

next we drove home

the next closest school

2

: on the first occasion to come

when next we meet

next

4 of 4

noun

: one that is next

from one day to the next

Synonyms

Adjective

• coming
• ensuing
• following
• succeeding

Examples of next in a Sentence

Adjective

I'll see you next Monday.

Next year's party will be even better.

the very next thing that happened

Can I help the next person in line? Who's next?

We could hear people talking in the next room.

At the next set of lights, turn left.

I need the next size up.

The next time we will see each other will be on our wedding day.

Next time, please remember to bring your books to class.

She knew the answer as well as the next person.

Adverb

Next, I need to ask you a few questions about your family.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Preparing for your next promotion is a multifaceted process that requires a balanced approach to ambition and knowledge. —Rosalba Carandente, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024

Skip to the next and previous photo by typing j/k or ←/→. 2 more free articles this month Already a subscriber? —Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2024

Preposition

One low energy email today means missing out on that opportunity next year. —Jodie Cook, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024

Traders are now expecting the Federal Reserve to deliver just one or maybe two cuts to interest rates next year, according to data from CME Group. —CBS News, 19 Dec. 2024

Adverb

What the opportunistic squirrels do—or eat—next remains to be seen. —Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Dec. 2024

Timing and understanding are absolutely key to what happens next. —Stuart James, The Athletic, 19 Dec. 2024

Noun

One sport to the next sees what the other has done and wants some of the same stuff. —Lia Assimakopoulos, Dallas News, 8 Mar. 2023

So bouncing from one tone and genre to the next creates a whiplash effect, even though some of the episodes — that fourth one in particular — are quite good. —Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 15 Mar. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Old English nīehst, superlative of nēah nigh — more at nigh

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Preposition

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing next

• better luck next time
• cleanliness is next to godliness
• from one day to the next
• from one minute to the next
• from one moment to the next
• girl next door
• in the next life
• next best
• next door
• next-door neighbor
• next door to
• next friend
• next-gen
• next generation
• next-level
• next of kin
• next to
• next to last
• next to nothing
• the boy/girl next door
• the next best thing
• the next big thing
• the next couple of
• the next life
• the next man/person
• the next thing I knew
• week after next

Kids Definition

next

1 of 3 adjective

ˈnekst 

: coming immediately before or following

the next page

the house next to ours

next

2 of 3 preposition

(ˈ)nekst

: next to entry 1

next

3 of 3 adverb

ˈnekst

1

: in the nearest time, place, or order following

open this package next

2

: at the first time to come after this

when next we meet