nearby

adverb or adjective

near·​by nir-ˈbī 

ˈnir-ˌbī

: close at hand

Synonyms of nearby

• close
• near
• in

Examples of nearby in a Sentence

grabbed the nearby quilt and gently laid it over the sleeping child

I'll be nearby if you need anything

Recent Examples on the Web

Clockout, a networking app designed for finding professionals, clubs and events nearby, looks to fix the loneliness syndrome plaguing young workers. — Joshua Hong, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026

Inspectors also observed a dying adult cockroach on the floor nearby, two live adult cockroaches on a glue stick in a storage room, and a dead adult cockroach near the employee restroom entrance. — Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026

The votes were loudly jeered by protesters who had gathered nearby. — Joseph Wilson, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026

Residents feared the millions of dollars spent to clean up and redevelop Hazelwood Green would displace them, as new firms and workers moved in and land speculation increased nearby. — Ira Goldstein, The Conversation, 1 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for nearby

• apply
• awry
• belie
• bely
• bigeye
• bonsai
• buckeye
• comply
• coxae
• decry
• defy
• deny

Kids Definition

nearby

adverb or adjective

near·​by ni(ə)r-ˈbī 

ˈni(ə)r-ˌbī

: close at hand