Synonyms of near

near 1 of 4

preposition

as in around

close to

please don't cough near me

Synonyms & Similar Words

• around
• beside
• at
• across
• next door to
• by
• about
• along
• nigh
• toward
• next to
• alongside
• circa

near

2 of 4

adjective

1

as in closer

being the less far of two

grab the comforter from the near side of the bed and fold it in half

Synonyms & Similar Words

• closer
• this
• front
• hither
• inside
• nigher
• fore
• forward

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• that
• other
• opposite
• further
• farther
• far
• distant
• remote
• outside
• back
• remoter

2

as in relative

being such only when compared to something else

the incessant busyness of the family next-door makes us look like we live in near retirement

Synonyms & Similar Words

• relative
• almost
• approximate
• comparative
• similar
• comparable
• equivalent
• alike
• equal

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• perfect
• complete
• absolute
• pure
• outright
• real
• true
• unqualified
• downright
• out-and-out
• genuine

3

as in living

closely resembling the object imitated

the dress is made from a near silk that would fool anyone but an expert

Synonyms & Similar Words

• living
• realistic
• natural
• naturalistic
• like
• similar
• comparable
• vivid
• lifelike
• close
• three-dimensional
• graphic
• compelling
• true
• matching
• accurate
• approximate
• photo-realistic
• convincing
• alike
• analogous
• resembling
• akin
• faithful
• expressive
• verisimilar
• gritty

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• off
• unlike
• unrealistic
• unnatural
• dissimilar
• different
• incomparable
• unmatched
• nonnatural
• disparate
• nonrealistic
• contrasting
• unalike
• mock
• fake
• phony
• sham
• contrasted

4

as in close

not being distant in time, space, or significance

the famous prediction that in the near future everyone will be famous for 15 minutes

Synonyms & Similar Words

• close
• nearby
• immediate
• neighboring
• proximate
• next-door
• adjacent
• nigh
• at hand
• to hand
• coming
• adjoining
• convenient
• contiguous
• close-up
• abutting
• approaching
• handy
• bordering
• upcoming
• oncoming
• forthcoming
• accessible
• close-in
• hand-to-hand

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• distant
• far
• remote
• deep
• away
• far-off
• faraway
• separated
• divorced
• removed

5

as in familiar

closely acquainted

only her nearest friends know she's pregnant

Synonyms & Similar Words

• close
• familiar
• intimate
• bosom
• friendly
• tight
• inward
• inseparable
• especial
• chummy
• comfortable
• thick
• dear
• social
• loving
• buddy-buddy
• boon
• affectionate
• easy
• convivial
• clannish
• companionable
• cozy
• cordial
• gracious
• close-knit
• hearty
• genial
• tight-knit
• affable
• warm
• confidential
• neighborly
• gregarious
• sociable
• secretive
• adoring
• amicable
• devoted
• snug
• fond
• tender
• tenderhearted

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• distant
• distant
• remote
• cold
• withdrawn
• cool
• detached
• aloof
• unfriendly
• frosty
• antisocial
• reserved
• unsociable
• standoffish

near

3 of 4

adverb

ˈnir 

1

as in in

at, within, or to a short distance or time

as the campers grew cold, so they gravitated nearer to the campfire

as summer draws near, we usually start planning our annual vacation

Synonyms & Similar Words

• close
• in
• nearby
• around
• at hand
• by
• at close quarters
• within call
• nigh
• hard
• along
• on one's doorstep
• hereabouts
• alongside
• conveniently
• thereabouts
• hereaway
• handily
• accessibly

2

as in closely

to a close degree

copy the artist's drawing into your own sketchbook as near as you can

Synonyms & Similar Words

• closely
• nearly

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• remotely
• distantly

3

as in almost

very close to but not completely

it's near six o'clock, so we should start preparing dinner

Synonyms & Similar Words

• almost
• practically
• nearly
• somewhere
• fairly
• about
• virtually
• most
• pretty much
• just about
• nigh
• as good as
• fair
• more or less
• next to
• much
• feckly
• mostly
• within an inch of
• well-nigh
• borderline
• all but
• mainly
• largely
• somewhat
• chiefly
• partially
• by and large
• partly
• appreciably
• kind of

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• quite
• entirely
• completely
• fully
• absolutely
• well
• altogether
• thoroughly
• wholly
• plain
• totally
• plumb
• utterly
• barely
• hardly
• scarcely

4

as in approximately

close to but not exactly

it takes somewhere near an hour to get there

Synonyms & Similar Words

• approximately
• around
• about
• roughly
• say
• some
• somewhere around
• somewhere about
• nearly
• after a fashion
• much
• like
• plus or minus
• more or less
• generally
• practically
• loosely
• virtually
• nominally
• well-nigh
• kind of

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• precisely
• exactly
• even
• just
• sharp
• squarely
• due
• smack-dab

near

4 of 4

verb

1

as in to close

to come near or nearer

as the procession nears, you'll be able to take a better picture of the graduates

Synonyms & Similar Words

• close
• come
• approach
• come up
• close in
• draw on
• reach
• arrive
• nigh
• belly up
• attain
• hit
• land
• gain
• turn up
• show up
• verge
• border
• make
• adjoin
• sneak up
• creep up
• touch
• waltz (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• withdraw
• retire
• recede
• retreat
• back (up or away)
• leave
• go
• remove
• exit
• depart
• run away
• walk out
• pull out
• quit
• clear out
• take off
• shove (off)
• light out

2

as in to approach

to move closer to

as we near the church, you'll be able to see the bas-relief sculptures better

Synonyms & Similar Words

• approach
• come
• enter
• nigh
• advance
• drop in
• pop (in)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• go
• withdraw
• leave
• recede (from)
• retreat
• depart
• exit

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of near

Preposition

But Chinese companies have adapted in recent years, ramping up greenfield investment and setting up processing capacity near the mines, instead of outright acquisitions, according to Rhodium. — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2026

Blomstedt moved back to Sweden, near Örebro, where three of his four daughters reside. — Tom Huizenga, NPR, 4 Nov. 2026

Adjective

There was Howard Hughes, too, the eccentric American billionaire who spent years living in near-total seclusion in a Las Vegas hotel penthouse, whose lonely existence became a reference for Timothée Chalamet’s burdened Emperor Paul Atreides. — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 5 Nov. 2026

The movement of the crowd has been brought to a near standstill at points by the sheer quantity of people. — Soph Warnes, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2026

Adverb

This is what happened when the FDA approved the Alzheimer’s drug aducanumab in 2021 despite the near-unanimous vote of the advisory committee (which included one of us) against approval. — C. Joseph Ross Daval, STAT, 30 Oct. 2026

During the tests, the team exposed the material to an 800-nanometer (nm) near-infrared laser pulse, and caused its atoms and electrons to become excited. — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2026

Verb

The North Siders marching down Diversey Parkway on a recent morning are well aware their electrical grid is nearing its breaking point. — Chicago Tribune, 9 Nov. 2026

Bhatt returned to the witness stand Monday as his trial nears its end. — Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 9 Nov. 2026

Phrases Containing near

• far and near
• near escape
• near miss