almost

1 of 2

adverb

al·​most ˈȯl-ˌmōst  ȯl-ˈmōst 

: very nearly but not exactly or entirely

We're almost there.

The work is almost done.

almost

2 of 2

adjective

: very near but not quite

an almost failure

Synonyms of almost

Adverb

• nearly
• practically
• virtually
• fairly

Adjective

• relative

Examples of almost in a Sentence

Adverb

Analysts predict that rates will rise by almost 40 percent.

Goats will eat almost anything.

Adjective

burdened with impossibly high expectations, the movie came to be regarded as an almost failure

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

Their final-third entries were almost identical across the five channels of the pitch, which helped Bukayo Saka (14), Martin Odegaard (15), Gabriel Jesus (11) and Gabriel Martinelli (15) all score more than 10 league goals each. — Art De Roché, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026

The National Museum alone lost almost two-thirds of its inventory, comprising nearly 100,000 artifacts that covered Sudan’s prehistoric age through its Nubian era, the Kingdom of Kush, the Christian era and its Islamic period. — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Adjective

That also means its almost time for clocks to fall back. — Dina Kaur, AZCentral.com, 25 Oct. 2025

Orange County has paid more than $39 million worth of settlements in the almost year since the Airport fire broke out and destroyed more than 100 structures, according to county officials. — Michael Slaten, Oc Register, 20 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

Middle English, from Old English ealmǣst, from eall + mǣst most

Adjective

derivative of almost entry 1

First Known Use

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1529, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing almost

• almost a certainty
• almost jump out of one's skin
• almost never
• almost no
• almost nothing

Rhymes for almost

• engrossed
• foremost
• hindmost
• impost
• inmost
• lamppost
• leftmost
• necrosed
• outpost
• pancoast
• rightmost
• riposte

Kids Definition

almost

adverb

al·​most

ˈȯl-ˌmōst, 

ȯl-ˈmōst

: only a little less than : nearly

we're almost finished