next to

1 of 2

preposition

1

: immediately following or adjacent to

2

: in comparison to

next to you I'm wealthy

next to

2 of 2

adverb

: very nearly : almost

it was next to impossible to see in the fog

Synonyms

Preposition

• about
• around
• by
• near
• nigh

Adverb

• about
• all but
• almost
• borderline
• fair [chiefly British]
• fairly
• feckly [chiefly Scottish]
• more or less
• most
• much
• near
• nearly
• nigh
• practically
• somewhere
• virtually
• well-nigh

Examples of next to in a Sentence

Preposition

enjoys living next to the ocean

next to the war, the flagging economy was the biggest campaign issue

Adverb

bought it for next to nothing

Recent Examples on the Web

Preposition

More than 50 cars sat in parking spaces and next to gas pumps, under what used to be awnings. —James Hartley, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 May 2024

Without saying a word, the man pulled out the shotgun, pumped it and pointed it directly in Whitton’s face with his wife standing next to him. —Marcus D. Smith, Sacramento Bee, 26 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Preposition

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

1596, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

next to

1 of 2 preposition

: immediately following : being close to

next to the head of her class

next to

2 of 2 adverb

: very nearly : almost