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

Supreme Court justices will hear arguments next week in a landmark case that could determine whether states can sue oil and gas companies for climate change. — Callie Patteson, The Washington Examiner, 1 Oct. 2026

As Solomon prepares to step down while the bank fires on all cylinders, the question is how Waldron can take it to the next level. — Morgan Chittum, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026

Preposition

Five traditional public high schools are slated to begin sharing their buildings with charter operators next school year. — Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026

Highs in the upper 60s are expected multiple days next week, and lows will fall into the upper 40s. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 2 Oct. 2026

Adverb

What happens next is conveyed almost entirely through flashbacks to dinners that weren’t interesting enough to become full scenes. — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026

Mercury in your private 12th House squares Mars in your 9th, stirring big questions about beliefs, travel, learning, or where you are headed next. — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026

Noun

Then a decision on what to do next will be made in conjunction with the medical experts and Dart. — Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 22 Sep. 2026

When so many pieces of New York have been relentlessly framed as an out-of-towner’s idea of themselves, Murray Hill just keeps being its everyday nail-salon-next-to-a-weed-shop self. — Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 2 Sep. 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