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

Rollins survived virtually all of his contemporaries from the 1950s and ’60s, the period in which the fundamental elements of the contemporary jazz that followed for the next half-century were established. —Don Heckman, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2026

Griner’s next free throw or basket will take her to the 6,000 point milestone, a hallowed group that is inhabited by only 18 players. —Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 26 May 2026

Preposition

The United States men's national team roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup was officially revealed at Pier 17 in Manhattan on Tuesday afternoon, and the 26 men representing the Stars and Stripes are set to show out on home soil next month. —Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 26 May 2026

With the significant turnover in the Senate, there is a real opportunity for freshmen legislators to serve on significant committees next year. —Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards, Mercury News, 26 May 2026

Adverb

Liverpool are next at 6/1, with Manchester United priced at 13/2. —Dean Jones, New York Times, 28 May 2026

What to read next The Milky Way disc is the circular flowing whirlpool-like structure, where most of our galaxy's stars, including our own sun, are located. —Julian Dossett, Space.com, 27 May 2026

Noun

Today's higher-than-average credit card rates aren't helping, either, as the borrowers who are carrying revolving debt from one month to the next are watching their credit card debt compound rapidly. —Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 6 May 2026

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