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nearly
/ˈnɪərli/
almost, but not quite
She nearly missed the train.
She almost missed the train, but she made it just in time.
general
almost, but not quite
We nearly finished the project on time.
We almost completed the project on time, but there was a slight delay.
He was nearly late for the meeting.
He almost arrived late for the meeting, but he managed to get there just in time.
Used to describe something that almost happened but did not quite occur.
Collocations
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Usage Tip
'Nearly' is often used to describe a situation that was very close to happening but did not actually happen. It can also be used to describe a quantity or time that is almost reached.
Gold Rule
Grammar Rule
'Nearly' is an adverb and is typically used before the main verb or adjective it modifies.
Word Origin
From Middle English 'nearly,' from 'neare' (near) + '-ly' (adverb suffix).
Usage Notes
Often used to describe a situation that was very close to happening but did not actually happen. Can also be used to describe a quantity that is almost complete or a time that is almost reached.
Word Breakdown
near
close in distance or time
root-ly
adverb suffix
suffixEnglish Dictionary