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

The derailment closed both directions of traffic on South Holland Road near Britton Roads, according to the Mansfield Police Department. — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Aug. 2026

The Austrian has played an active role in recruitment, holding near-daily conversations with George Syrianos, the club’s influential chief football officer. — Paul Taylor, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Adjective

The Decision Window The enterprises that will be secure and compliant in the near future are building agent governance right now, in parallel with human and non-human identity work. — Israel Duanis, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Given the near inevitability of natural, accidental, and weaponized biological incidents in the future, anxiety about growing risks is warranted, and it is magnified by the absence of a strategy to effectively manage those risks. — Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026

Adverb

Inevitably, anybody who plays in an offense alongside Chase and Higgins will have to be near perfect in the supporting role. — Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026

Season 24, episode 12 — which aired in January 2023 — featured a near-kiss between the two. — Entertainment Weekly, 19 Aug. 2026

Verb

As All In London nears, the latest episode of AEW Dynamite aired on Wednesday, August 12, from Las Vegas to showcase the latest build. — Rob Wolkenbrod, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026

Rescuers in Colombia were making last-ditch efforts to locate earthquake survivors early Thursday as the critical 72-hour window for rescue operations neared its end. — CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026

Phrases Containing near

• far and near
• near escape
• near miss