next

1 of 4

adjective

ˈnekst 

1

: immediately adjacent (as in place, rank, or time)

2

: any other considered hypothetically

knew it as well as the next man

see also:

next to nothing

next

2 of 4

preposition

: nearest or adjacent to

next

3 of 4

adverb

1

: in the time, place, or order nearest or immediately succeeding

next we drove home

the next closest school

2

: on the first occasion to come

when next we meet

next

4 of 4

noun

: one that is next

from one day to the next

Synonyms of next

Adjective

• following
• ensuing
• second
• coming

Examples of next in a Sentence

Adjective

I'll see you next Monday.

Next year's party will be even better.

the very next thing that happened

Can I help the next person in line? Who's next?

We could hear people talking in the next room.

At the next set of lights, turn left.

I need the next size up.

The next time we will see each other will be on our wedding day.

Next time, please remember to bring your books to class.

She knew the answer as well as the next person.

Adverb

Next, I need to ask you a few questions about your family.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The next puzzle will be available at midnight in your time zone. —Mark Cooper, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026

The president’s nominee to be the next chair of the Federal Reserve will appear on Capitol Hill today for a confirmation hearing, but his path forward is uncertain due to the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) investigation into current Fed Chair Jerome Powell. —Jared Gans, The Hill, 21 Apr. 2026

Preposition

Incoming members of parliament are slated to take their oaths next month, and it is expected that Prime Minister-designate Peter Magyar will push for the legislature to address the anti-LGBT laws immediately. —Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 21 Apr. 2026

The 2026 Sports Emmys and News & Documentary Emmys are being held on three consecutive nights next month, and the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences today revealed the lifetime achievement award honorees for each. —Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 21 Apr. 2026

Adverb

What’s next for Lemieux, who will turn 29 in May, is unclear, but the former first-team All-American signed off on his retirement announcement with a motivating message. —Mark Harris, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026

Up next Chicago continues a six-game, seven-day trip on Wednesday with LHP Anthony Kay going against Arizona LHP Eduardo Rodriguez. —CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026

Noun

Health officials’ decision on what to do next could be delicate. —Chelsea Cirruzzo, STAT, 20 Mar. 2026

Hanizam/Getty Images Carrying credit card debt from one month to the next has always been costly, but the math has gotten especially brutal over the last few years. —Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Old English nīehst, superlative of nēah nigh — more at nigh

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Preposition

12th century, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing next

• better luck next time
• cleanliness is next to godliness
• from one day to the next
• from one minute to the next
• from one moment to the next
• girl next door
• in the next life
• next best
• next-door
• next-door neighbor
• next door to
• next friend
• next-gen
• next-generation
• next-level
• next of kin
• next to
• next to last
• next to nothing
• the boy/girl next door
• the next best thing
• the next big thing
• the next couple of
• the next life
• the next man/person
• the next thing I knew
• week after next

Rhymes for next

• flexed
• sexed
• text
• vexed
• ciphertext
• hypertext
• multiplexed
• teletext
• complexed
• deflexed
• perplexed
• plaintext

Kids Definition

next

1 of 3 adjective

ˈnekst 

: coming immediately before or following

the next page

the house next to ours

next

2 of 3 preposition

(ˈ)nekst

: next to entry 1

next

3 of 3 adverb

ˈnekst

1

: in the nearest time, place, or order following

open this package next

2

: at the first time to come after this

when next we meet