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
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
The Michigan House voted nearly unanimously in June to approve legislation aimed at cracking down on bots that purchase tickets in bulk, inflating demand and resale prices.
—
Jessie Opoien, jsonline.com, 3 Oct. 2025
The latest reading reveals that inflation has caught up with many items with the overall index climbing nearly 11% over the past two and a half years.
—Alexander Coolidge, Cincinnati Enquirer, 3 Oct. 2025
Abe – widely seen as Japan’s last stable leader, having ruled for nearly nine years – was assassinated in 2022.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
This came after higher-than-average rainfall levels to start the summer, including nearly 4 inches above normal in July, per the NWS, with record-breaking rainfall on July 28, the Free Press reported.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nearly
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Jessie Opoien, jsonline.com, 3 Oct. 2025
The latest reading reveals that inflation has caught up with many items with the overall index climbing nearly 11% over the past two and a half years.
—Alexander Coolidge, Cincinnati Enquirer, 3 Oct. 2025
Abe – widely seen as Japan’s last stable leader, having ruled for nearly nine years – was assassinated in 2022.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
This came after higher-than-average rainfall levels to start the summer, including nearly 4 inches above normal in July, per the NWS, with record-breaking rainfall on July 28, the Free Press reported.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nearly
Cite this Entry
“Nearly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nearly. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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