nigh

adverb

\ˈnī

Definition of nigh

(Entry 1 of 4)

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

nigh

adjective

Definition of nigh (Entry 2 of 4)

1 : close, near

2 chiefly dialectal : direct, short

3 : being on the left side the nigh horse

nigh

preposition

Definition of nigh (Entry 3 of 4)

: near

nigh

verb

nighed; nighing; nighs

Definition of nigh (Entry 4 of 4)

transitive verb

: to draw or come near to : approach

intransitive verb

: to draw near

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about nigh

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Synonyms & Antonyms for nigh

Synonyms: Adverb

around, by, close, hard, in, near, nearby

Synonyms: Adjective

close, close-up, immediate, near, nearby, neighboring, next-door, proximate

Synonyms: Preposition

about, around, by, near, next to

Synonyms: Verb

approach, belly up, close, close in, come up, draw on, near

Antonyms: Adjective

away, deep, distant, far, faraway, far-off, remote

Antonyms: Verb

back (up or away), recede, retire, retreat, withdraw

Examples of nigh in a Sentence

Adverb

The snow is melting. Spring is nigh. It would be nigh impossible to fix it.

Preposition

a field nigh the church

Verb

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

Recent Examples on the Web: Adverb

Universa’s typical client suspects that the end may be nigh but wants to stay fully invested anyway. — Spencer Jakab, WSJ, "Triumph of the Market Pessimists," 21 Sep. 2018 While some headset elements receive high repairability marks, iFixit mostly condemns the expensive, developer-minded device for its aggressive adhesives, strangely bolted cord, and nigh-unreplaceable battery. — Sam Machkovech, Ars Technica, "iFixit dissects the $2,299 Magic Leap One so you don’t have to," 23 Aug. 2018 To wit: The stakes are high, the end is nigh and people die. — Justin Chang, latimes.com, "'Avengers: Infinity War': a rousing Marvel mash-up, or a truly epic tease?," 24 Apr. 2018 For nearly a decade, Drew Pearce has quietly helped make some of your favorite movies happen in nigh-anonymity. — Joshua Rivera, GQ, "The Hotel Artemis Director Thinks We've Been Doing Sequels All Wrong," 13 June 2018 Many of the 653 pitchers taken in the June Major League Baseball draft will have their own watershed moment where the end seems nigh. — Ray Glier, USA TODAY, "Ups and downs of minor league bullpens," 5 July 2018 That gift may come as small comfort against the growing creakiness of joints and the still-mounting probability that the end is nigh. — Melissa Healy, latimes.com, "Can humans reach even older age? We haven't maxed out yet, some scientists say," 28 June 2018 The North Africans appeared the hungrier of the sides in the second half and an aerial ball from deep in the 49th minute well-nigh set Moubarak Boussoufa up with a goal. — SI.com, "Spain 2-2 Morocco: Late Drama Sees La Roja Top Group B After Falling Behind Twice," 25 June 2018 Republican congressman Steve Scalise responded to Waters with a vapid, tut-tutting bromide hinting that the end of the republic, should her stance gain traction, is nigh. — Jay Willis, GQ, "Public Shaming Is Powerful," 25 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

Well, well, well, Aries, looks like your time is nigh and Taurus season is upon us imminently. — Allure, "Bite Beauty's Astrology Lipstick for Leo Is an Attention-Grabbing Glittery Gold," 19 July 2018 While Vesuvius buried Pompeii in lava and ash 14 years later, the end wasn't exactly nigh for the entire planet. — National Geographic, "No, the World Will Not End on April 23," 13 Apr. 2018 While Vesuvius buried Pompeii in lava and ash 14 years later, the end wasn't exactly nigh for the entire planet. — National Geographic, "No, the World Will Not End on April 23," 13 Apr. 2018 While Vesuvius buried Pompeii in lava and ash 14 years later, the end wasn't exactly nigh for the entire planet. — National Geographic, "No, the World Will Not End on April 23," 13 Apr. 2018 While Vesuvius buried Pompeii in lava and ash 14 years later, the end wasn't exactly nigh for the entire planet. — National Geographic, "No, the World Will Not End on April 23," 13 Apr. 2018 While Vesuvius buried Pompeii in lava and ash 14 years later, the end wasn't exactly nigh for the entire planet. — National Geographic, "No, the World Will Not End on April 23," 13 Apr. 2018 While Vesuvius buried Pompeii in lava and ash 14 years later, the end wasn't exactly nigh for the entire planet. — National Geographic, "No, the World Will Not End on April 23," 13 Apr. 2018 While Vesuvius buried Pompeii in lava and ash 14 years later, the end wasn't exactly nigh for the entire planet. — National Geographic, "No, the World Will Not End on April 23," 13 Apr. 2018

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.