nigh

¹nigh

adverb \ˈnī\

Definition of NIGH

1

: near in place, time, or relationship —often used with on, onto, or unto

2

: nearly, almost

Examples of NIGH

1. The snow is melting. Spring is nigh.
2. It would be nigh impossible to fix it.

Origin of NIGH

Middle English, from Old English nēah; akin to Old High German nāh, adverb, nigh, preposition, nigh, after, Old Norse nā- nigh

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to NIGH

Synonyms

around, by, close, hard, in, nearby, near

Related Words

hereabouts (or hereabout), hereaway (or hereaways) [dialect], thereabouts (also thereabout); along, alongside; accessibly, conveniently, handily

Near Antonyms

absolutely, altogether, completely, entirely, fully, plain, plumb [chiefly dialect], quite, thoroughly; totally, utterly, well, wholly; barely, hardly, scarcely

Rhymes with NIGH

ay, aye, bi, Bligh, buy, by, bye, chai, chi, cry, die, dry, dye, eye, fie, fly, fry, guy, hie, high, Huai, i, I, lie, lye, my, phi, pi, pie, ply, pry, psi, rye, scythe, shy, sigh, sky, Skye, sly, spry, spy, sty, Tai, Thai, thigh, thy, tie, try, vie, why, wry, wye, xi, Y

²nigh

adjective

Definition of NIGH

1

: close, near

2

chiefly dialect : direct, short

3

: being on the left side <the nigh horse>

First Known Use of NIGH

before 12th century

Related to NIGH

Synonyms

close-up, immediate, near, nearby, neighboring, next-door, close, proximate

Antonyms

away, deep, distant, far, faraway, far-off, remote

Related Words

abutting, adjacent, adjoining, bordering, contiguous; approaching, coming, forthcoming, oncoming, upcoming; accessible, convenient, handy; close-in, hand-to-hand

Near Antonyms

divorced, removed, separated

Other Dialect Terms

bespoke, boughten, lave, muchacho, spunk, thunk, toboggan

³nigh

preposition

Definition of NIGH

: near

Examples of NIGH

1. <a field nigh the church>

First Known Use of NIGH

before 12th century

Related to NIGH

Synonyms

about, by, near, next to, around

Related Words

alongside, beside; across, along, at; circa; toward (or towards)

⁴nigh

verb

Definition of NIGH

transitive verb

: to draw or come near to : approach

intransitive verb

: to draw near

Examples of NIGH

1. <as the hour of his death was nighing>
2. <as the old man was nighing his hour of death>

First Known Use of NIGH

13th century

Related to NIGH

Synonyms

belly up, close, close in, come up, draw on, near, approach

Antonyms

back (up or away), recede, retire, retreat, withdraw

Related Words

arrive, attain, come, gain, hit, land, make, reach, show up, turn up, waltz up; creep up, sneak up; adjoin, border, touch, verge

Near Antonyms

clear out, depart, exit, go, leave, light out, pull out, quit, remove, run away, shove (off), take off, walk out