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1

nigh

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adverb \ˈnī\

Definition of nigh

  1. 1 :  near in place, time, or relationship Morning was drawing nigh. —often used with on, onto, or unto served … for nigh on forty years — M. S. Tisdale

  2. 2 :  nearly, almost … once well nigh broke his neck, by a fall from one of its branches. — Washington Irving

See nigh defined for English-language learners

See nigh defined for kids

From the M-W Editors

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Examples of nigh in a Sentence

  1. The snow is melting. Spring is nigh.

  2. It would be nigh impossible to fix it.

Origin and Etymology of nigh

Middle English, from Old English nēah; akin to Old High German nāh, adverb, nigh, preposition, nigh, after, Old Norse nā- nigh

nigh Synonyms

Synonyms
around, by, close, hard, in, nearby, near
Related Words
hereabouts (or hereabout), hereaway (or hereaways) [dialect], thereabouts (also thereabout); along, alongside; accessibly, conveniently, handily
Near Antonyms
absolutely, altogether, completely, entirely, fully, plain, plumb [chiefly dialect], quite, thoroughly; totally, utterly, well, wholly; barely, hardly, scarcely
2

nigh

adjective

Definition of nigh

  1. 1 :  close, near

  2. 2 chiefly dialectal :  direct, short

  3. 3 :  being on the left side the nigh horse

Recent Examples of nigh from the Web

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'nigh.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of nigh

see 1nigh

nigh Synonyms

Synonyms
close-up, immediate, near, nearby, neighboring, next-door, close, proximate
Antonyms
away, deep, distant, far, faraway, far-off, remote
Related Words
abutting, adjacent, adjoining, bordering, contiguous; approaching, coming, forthcoming, oncoming, upcoming; accessible, convenient, handy; close-in, hand-to-hand
Near Antonyms
divorced, removed, separated

Other Dialect Terms

bespoke, boughten, lave, muchacho, spunk, thunk, toboggan

3

nigh

preposition

Definition of nigh

  1. :  near

Examples of nigh in a Sentence

  1. a field nigh the church

Origin and Etymology of nigh

see 1nigh

nigh Synonyms

Synonyms
about, by, near, next to, around
Related Words
alongside, beside; across, along, at; circa; toward (or towards)
4

nigh

verb

Definition of nigh

  1. transitive verb

  2. :  to draw or come near to :  approach

  3. intransitive verb

  4. :  to draw near

Examples of nigh in a Sentence

  1. as the hour of his death was nighing

  2. as the old man was nighing his hour of death

Origin and Etymology of nigh

see 1nigh

nigh Synonyms

Synonyms
belly up, close, close in, come up, draw on, near, approach
Antonyms
back (up or away), recede, retire, retreat, withdraw
Related Words
arrive, attain, come, gain, hit, land, make, reach, show up, turn up, waltz up; creep up, sneak up; adjoin, border, touch, verge
Near Antonyms
clear out, depart, exit, go, leave, light out, pull out, quit, remove, run away, shove (off), take off, walk out

Phrases Related to NIGH

Related Phrases

NIGH Defined for English Language Learners

nigh

play
adverb

Definition of nigh for English Language Learners

  • : close in time or place

  • : almost or nearly

NIGH Defined for Kids

1

nigh

play
adverb \ˈnī\

Definition of nigh for Students

  1. 1 :  near in time or place Autumn is nigh. I drew nigh and planted the kitten on the table … — Richard Peck, A Long Way from Chicago

  2. 2 :  almost, nearly It was nigh impossible to hear them.

2

nigh

play
adjective

Definition of nigh for Students

  1. :  3close 1, near I wandered in the woods nigh home.

Learn More about nigh

  1. See words that rhyme with nigh Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for nigh Spanish Central: Translation of nigh Nglish: Translation of nigh for Spanish speakers

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to fight against or to call in question

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Examples: nigh in a Sentence