near 1 of 5

near

2 of 5

adjective

1
as in closer
being the less far of two grab the comforter from the near side of the bed and fold it in half

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in relative
being such only when compared to something else the incessant busyness of the family next-door makes us look like we live in near retirement

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
4
5

near

3 of 5

adverb

1
as in in
at, within, or to a short distance or time as the campers grew cold, so they gravitated nearer to the campfire as summer draws near, we usually start planning our annual vacation

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
as in closely
to a close degree copy the artist's drawing into your own sketchbook as near as you can

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
4

near

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verb

nearness

5 of 5

noun

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of near
Preposition
At a Friday hearing, U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson prevented the agency from cutting off the employees’ computer access as planned later in the day until the judge holds a hearing near the end of the month. Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 18 Apr. 2025 The meteors' radiant point is in the constellation Lyra, near the bright star Vega. Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
Goldman Sachs for one has raised its recession forecast for the second straight week , now seeing a near coin-flip 45% probability, up 10 percentage points. Jeff Cox, CNBC, 7 Apr. 2025 Look for properties with serious upside: Seek out areas that are experiencing job growth and population increases, where homes are still affordable than in neighboring areas; these are factors that will cause property values to spike in the near future. Ryan Serhant, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Adverb
None of the current goalkeepers on the club’s books are anywhere near as accomplished, making the question of how Penders’ development is handled much more fraught. Liam Twomey, The Athletic, 20 Mar. 2025 Keeler: Sienna Betts staked claim as Colorado’s greatest girls basketball player in Grandview’s state title win To that end, each Yale player after their news conference had that same aerosol-sized can of portable oxygen waiting at, or near, their locker. Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 19 Mar. 2025
Verb
The average ticket price was $303, though some premium seating listed on the box office board neared $900. Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 15 Apr. 2025 The Big Story Trump administration nearing pharma tariffs plan The Trump administration on Monday took a step toward enacting its aims to tariff pharmaceutical imports, disclosing plans to carry out an investigation into the effects on national security of importing certain pharmaceuticals. Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 14 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for near
Recent Examples of Synonyms for near
Preposition
  • Pope Francis, who died Monday at 88 years old, is due to be laid to rest in the days ahead following a Saturday funeral service sure to draw leaders from around the world.
    Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025
  • This is all happening while people around the country experience unprecedented and unpredictable weather patterns — from alarming infernos in California to startling floods in North Carolina.
    Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • In its first three months in power, the new government restored relative calm to the country, largely restraining those who sought revenge for atrocities committed under the Assads.
    Christina Goldbaum, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2025
  • The April outlook readings for the demographic continued a six-month uptrend, reflecting continued relative strength in the jobs market.
    Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • With Asian elephants—its closest living relatives—facing a 22-month pregnancy and a decade-long wait for maturity, researchers needed a faster way to test their genetic edits.
    Scott Travers, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
  • Six more living hostages returned this past Saturday, but with further outrages by Hamas.
    The Editors, National Review, 24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • And Amanda Marsalis and April Blair are some of my closest friends now.
    Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 17 Apr. 2025
  • The new Charlotte Knights’ manager pitched for four MLB teams from 2010 to 2015, recording 30 saves as the closer for the Chicago White Sox in 2011.
    Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Cannes Film Festival head Thierry Frémaux said there’s more to come, but this wasn’t your typical Cannes Competition lineup studded with older, familiar auteurs.
    Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 10 Apr. 2025
  • There was also a memorandum of agreement about the move signed on Monday by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Acting SSA Commissioner Leland Dudek, according to one source familiar.
    Aaron Navarro, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2025
Adverb
  • Now, potential employees are flown in for a one-day, in-person interview.
    Melissa Mahtani, CBS News, 18 Apr. 2025
  • On the final day, El Batey becomes a focal point, with live drumming and dancing that invite both locals and visitors to join in.
    Melissa Rose Cooper, Essence, 18 Apr. 2025
Adverb
  • In the private sector, in which open standards, rapid product development, and fierce competition are the norm, many software innovations can be developed within a year and almost instantaneously adopted by consumers.
    MICHAEL BROWN, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Seven days of hell and three consecutive defeats later, Chris Wilder’s side went from being in the driving seat of the automatic promotion race to almost out of it.
    Gregg Evans, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2025
Adverb
  • So far, the MSS team has worked alongside its partners to install more than 87,000 Reef Stars with approximately 1.3 million corals attached.
    Cat Cardenas, Variety, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The company has approximately 46 properties surrounding the campus, according to its website, with rents ranging from $1,600 for a one bedroom apartment to $8,400 for a six bedroom single family home.
    Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Near.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/near. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.

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