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

His statue at Gallagher Way depicts Sandberg, sporting his flip-down sunglasses flipped up, in a slight defensive crouch while awaiting the next pitch. —Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 29 July 2025

The next possible game changers, the driverless ride-sharing services of Waymo and Tesla, have recently arrived on Austin streets. —Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 29 July 2025

Preposition

Philadelphia would owe him the remainder of his $5.9 million salary this season plus his arbitration number next year. —Drew Vonscio, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 July 2025

The Lions will kick off the preseason next week versus the Chargers in the Hall of Fame Game, then will host the Dolphins and Texans for joint practices next month. —Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 27 July 2025

Adverb

What’s up next this summer in terms of work, what will be the next project on your schedule? —Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 30 July 2025

Gregory is next scheduled to appear in court Aug. 7. Reach Marina Johnson at [e-mail]. —Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 30 July 2025

Noun

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

So bouncing from one tone and genre to the next creates a whiplash effect, even though some of the episodes — that fourth one in particular — are quite good. —Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 15 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