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
Jackson has not been at his best recently, and will probably look to get back to his MVP ways in this one against a defense that has struggled to stop nearly every opponent.
—
Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025
In a recent analysis of nearly 1,000 people with lung or skin cancer, researchers found that those who received mRNA COVID-19 vaccines had a median survival almost double that of those who weren’t COVID-19 vaccinated.
—Robert Goldberg, Boston Herald, 28 Nov. 2025
The Arizona Department of Health Services reported 153 cases this week, nearly all in Mohave County.
—Erika Edwards, NBC news, 28 Nov. 2025
Float Escorts Must Avoid Handbags and Accessories Sorry, handbags and backpacks are not allowed to be worn during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, despite being out and about on the streets of NYC for a nearly 3-mile-long march.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nearly
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Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025
In a recent analysis of nearly 1,000 people with lung or skin cancer, researchers found that those who received mRNA COVID-19 vaccines had a median survival almost double that of those who weren’t COVID-19 vaccinated.
—Robert Goldberg, Boston Herald, 28 Nov. 2025
The Arizona Department of Health Services reported 153 cases this week, nearly all in Mohave County.
—Erika Edwards, NBC news, 28 Nov. 2025
Float Escorts Must Avoid Handbags and Accessories Sorry, handbags and backpacks are not allowed to be worn during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, despite being out and about on the streets of NYC for a nearly 3-mile-long march.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 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 1 Dec. 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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