nearly

adverb

near·​ly ˈnir-lē 

1

: in a close manner or relationship

nearly related

2

a

: almost but not quite

nearly identical

nearly a year later

b

: to the least extent

not nearly as good as we expected

Synonyms of nearly

• closely

Examples of nearly in a Sentence

I see her nearly every day.

We lived there for nearly two years.

Nearly all of us got sick that weekend.

Recent Examples on the Web

Just ask Mark Vientos, who nearly had two home runs, but both fell just short of crossing the left field wall. —Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 5 May 2026

Fisher was the company’s fashion merchandiser for nearly four decades, while her husband focused on the business side. —Anne D'innocenzio, Chicago Tribune, 5 May 2026

The 2026 Met Gala is here, and PEOPLE will be on the red carpet as all the stars arrive to show off an array of exciting designer looks — from the avant-garde to the nearly nude. —Lindsay Kimble, PEOPLE, 4 May 2026

Medicare coverage continues for nearly eight years. —French Hill, Baltimore Sun, 4 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1561, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing nearly

• nearly gave someone a heart attack
• not nearly
• pretty near/nearly

Rhymes for nearly

• clearly
• dearly
• merely
• queerly
• yearly
• austerely
• severely
• sincerely
• cavalierly

Kids Definition

nearly

adverb

near·​ly ˈni(ə)r-lē 

1

: in a close manner or relationship

nearly related

2

: almost but not quite

nearly the same

nearly missed the train

3

: to the least extent

not nearly enough