Dictionary

nearly en · ADV

Pronunciation

• /ˈniəli/ (New-Zealand)
• (US) audio
• /ˈniɾle/ (Scotland)
• /ˈnɪɹli/ (Canada, General-American)
• /ˈnɛːli/ East Anglia, cheer–chair merger
• /-lɪ/ (Scotland)
• /ˈnɪəli/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /-li/ (Scotland)
• /ˈnɪːlɪj/ (British, Southern, Standard)

Etymology

From near + -ly. Cognate with Scots nerelie, neirlie (“nearly”). Compare also English nearling, nearlings.

Meanings

1. In close approximation; almost, virtually.
   • It’s been nearly four years since China put tariffs on American-grown soybeans during a tit-for-tat trade war with then-President Donald Trump – and they remain in place despite the change in administrations. 2022 May 8, Katie Lobosco, “Trump’s trade war looms over soybean farmers 4 years later”, in CNN:
   • In the past two years, NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope has located nearly 3,000 exoplanet candidates ranging from sub-Earth-sized minions to gas giants that dwarf our own Jupiter. 2013 May-June, Kevin Heng, “Why Does Nature Form Exoplanets Easily?”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3, archived from the original on 09 May 2013, page 184:
   • She was like a Beardsley Salome, he had said. And indeed she had the narrow eyes and the high cheekbone of that creature, and as nearly the sinuosity as is compatible with human symmetry. 1921, Ben Travers, chapter 1, in A Cuckoo in the Nest, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 1925, →OCLC:
   • He left a nearly full beer on the bar.
   • I nearly didn't go to work yesterday.
   • He was (so/very) nearly over the worst part of his college degree.
   • 'Since Heidi's been here, delightful things have happened nearly every day.' 1956 [1880], Johanna Spyri, Heidi, translation of original by Eileen Hall, page 97:
2. (archaic) With great scrutiny; carefully.
   • And whosoever hath traced mee and nearely [translating de pres] looked into my humours, Ile loose a good wager if hee confesse not that there is no rule in their schoole, could, a midde such crooked pathes and divers windings, square and report this naturall motion, and maintaine an apparance of liberty and licence so equall and inflexible […]. 1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 1, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book III, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:
3. With close relation; intimately.
   • She could have joined most comfortably in all their supposings, and suspicions, and doubts, and prognostications, but the honour of the family was too nearly concerned to allow free reins to her tongue. 1837, The Dublin University Magazine:
   • Let that which he learns next be nearly conjoined with what he knows already. a. 1705, John Locke, “Of the Conduct of the Understanding”, in Posthumous Works of Mr. John Locke: […], London: […] A[wnsham] and J[ohn] Churchill, […], published 1706, →OCLC:
   • [H]e was also accounted a man of wealth, and was nearly related to a high chief. 1847 March 30, Herman Melville, Omoo: A Narrative of Adventures in the South Seas; […], London: John Murray, […], →OCLC:
4. Closely, in close proximity.
   • I doubt some danger do's approach you neerely. c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii]:
5. Stingily.

Forms

Deriveds

nearlywed · nearly fall off one's chair · nearly never bulled a cow · nearly-dead · nearlyness · nearliness · nearly man · nearly never won the race

Synonyms

environ · next to · close to · almost · near · well-nigh · nigh · virtually · practically

Translations (88)

ang fornēah (almost, but not quite) · ru о́коло (almost, but not quite) · pl bez mała (almost, but not quite) · tr hemen hemen (almost, but not quite) · uk ма́йже (almost, but not quite) · sco maistly (almost, but not quite) · vi gần (almost, but not quite) · et peaaegu (almost, but not quite) · ca gairebé (almost, but not quite) · nn nesten (almost, but not quite) · fi lähes (almost, but not quite) · nl bijna (almost, but not quite) · ga de chóir (almost, but not quite) · ru чуть не (almost, but not quite) · it quasi (almost, but not quite) · sk takmer (almost, but not quite) · vi gần như (almost, but not quite) · chr ᎾᎥᏂᎨᏍᏗ (almost, but not quite) · grc σχεδόν (almost, but not quite) · qu yaqa (almost, but not quite) · pl blisko (almost, but not quite) · sv uppemot (almost, but not quite) · hu majdnem (almost, but not quite) · la paene (almost, but not quite) · tr neredeyse (almost, but not quite) · el σχεδόν (almost, but not quite) · ga suas le (almost, but not quite) · ko 거의 (almost, but not quite) · eo preskaŭ (almost, but not quite) · sv nästan (almost, but not quite) · fa تقریباً (almost, but not quite) · nb bortimot (almost, but not quite) · sq gati (almost, but not quite) · la ferē (almost, but not quite) · pl prawie (almost, but not quite) · yi שיער (almost, but not quite) · sl skôraj (almost, but not quite) · hy գրեթե (almost, but not quite) · ka თითქმის (almost, but not quite) · fi miltei (almost, but not quite) · ga beagnach (almost, but not quite) · mi kainamu (almost, but not quite) · cs téměř (almost, but not quite) · lt beveik (almost, but not quite) · hi लगभग (almost, but not quite) · cs skoro (almost, but not quite) · cmn 差不多 (almost, but not quite) · nb nesten (almost, but not quite) · fi liki (almost, but not quite) · lv gandrīz (almost, but not quite) · sh ско̀ро (almost, but not quite) · he כִּמְעַט (almost, but not quite) · la prope (almost, but not quite) · bg почти́ (almost, but not quite) · it praticamente (almost, but not quite) · nv kʼasdą́ą́ʼ (almost, but not quite) · mi tōtahi (almost, but not quite) · fr presque (almost, but not quite) · sh skòro (almost, but not quite) · de beinahe (almost, but not quite) · th เกือบจะ (almost, but not quite) · mk ско́ро (almost, but not quite) · ka ლამის (almost, but not quite) · tyz ái (almost, but not quite) · ca quasi (almost, but not quite) · sa नोद् (almost, but not quite) · el παραλίγο (almost, but not quite) · bn নাগাদ (almost, but not quite) · it circa (almost, but not quite) · mt kważi (almost, but not quite) · ja 大方 (almost, but not quite) · nn bortimot (almost, but not quite) · unm kayahti (almost, but not quite) · ja 殆ど (almost, but not quite) · ru почти́ (almost, but not quite) · cs málem (almost, but not quite) · uk сливе́ (almost, but not quite) · ar تَقْرِيبًا (almost, but not quite) · sk skoro (almost, but not quite) · hy համարյա (almost, but not quite) · cmn 幾乎 /几乎 (almost, but not quite) · ru приблизи́тельно (almost, but not quite) · fi melkein (almost, but not quite) · mk ре́чиси (almost, but not quite) · ht prèske (almost, but not quite) · be ама́ль (almost, but not quite) · de fast (almost, but not quite) · pt quase (almost, but not quite)