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 of next

Adjective

• following
• ensuing
• second
• coming

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

The next year, their uncle was arrested in the Vel d’Hiv roundup, and months later French police took their ailing paternal grandmother, Sheindléa Badinter. —Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2026

The next hitter, junior Michaela Hamilton — a Northwestern State (LA) pledge — followed with an RBI triple that keyed a three-run inning that pushed the Grapevine Faith lead to 4-0. —Mike Waters, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Apr. 2026

Preposition

The two sides have until July 15 to work out a deal beyond 2026 before he would be slated to be right back in the same scenario next offseason. —Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Apr. 2026

Vietnamese airlines are planning to significantly reduce flights and scale back operations next month due to the high costs brought upon by the conflict, as well as potential jet fuel shortages. —Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 1 Apr. 2026

Adverb

Up next, Rahim stars in Fred Cavayé’s ambitious upcoming adaptation of Victor Hugo’s classic Les Misérables in the role of Inspector Javert, the nemesis of ex-convict and parole breaker protagonist Jean Valjean (Vincent Lindon) who is obsessed with tracking him down. —Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 26 Mar. 2026

Now, her office is trying to make sure folks trained in elections are involved in whatever happens next. —Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026

Noun

Health officials’ decision on what to do next could be delicate. —Chelsea Cirruzzo, STAT, 20 Mar. 2026

Hanizam/Getty Images Carrying credit card debt from one month to the next has always been costly, but the math has gotten especially brutal over the last few years. —Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026

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

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

Rhymes for next

• flexed
• sexed
• text
• vexed
• ciphertext
• hypertext
• multiplexed
• teletext
• complexed
• deflexed
• perplexed
• plaintext

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