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

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

There isn’t always a clear winner, and—barring some viral sensation taking the world by storm in the next two weeks—2025 might just be such a year. —Dave Paulson, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025

Gate 2 is next on the renovation schedule and should see work begin before year’s end. —Matthew Glowicki, The Courier-Journal, 22 Aug. 2025

Preposition

Highs near 110 degrees are expected through then, before cooling to the low 100s and upper 90s next week, thanks to monsoonal moisture. —Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 22 Aug. 2025

The premier class of motorsport steps into a new era of regulations next year, where cars will be powered by two sources in equal proportion: an internal combustion unit running on sustainable fuel and electric power. —Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025

Adverb

When development is framed as helping leaders build their edge, expand their impact and prepare for what’s next, people engage. —Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2025

Belichick's legacy is etched in history, but his relevance depends on what happens next. —Cecil Merkerson, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Aug. 2025

Noun

Incoming Data There are still several weeks before the FOMC next meets, during that time there will be more data on the economy. —Simon Moore, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025

One sport to the next sees what the other has done and wants some of the same stuff. —Lia Assimakopoulos, Dallas News, 8 Mar. 2023

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

before the 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