near 1 of 4

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
4
5

near

3 of 4

adverb

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

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
4

near

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verb

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of near
Preposition
Hundreds of National Guard troops staged near the park. Chelsea Bailey, CNN Money, 24 May 2025 The commission approved for Petrovich to build 31 homes on a different vacant parcel within the development near the corner of 10th Avenue and Crocker Drive. Theresa Clift, Sacbee.com, 24 May 2025
Adjective
The Boston Red Sox will be without Masataka Yoshida for the near future. Drew Vonscio, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025 On the other hand, if the nominators’ vote produces a tie or a near tie among the nominees who receive the lowest number of votes, additional spots can open up. Scott Heller, New York Times, 1 May 2025
Adverb
Hollywood has always been obsessed with the Beatles — partly because there’s never been a movie anywhere near as popular or mythical as the story of John, Paul, George, and Ringo. Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 5 Apr. 2025 Economists say tariff revenues won’t come anywhere near to accomplishing even some of those goals. Laurent Belsie, Christian Science Monitor, 2 Apr. 2025
Verb
But in trying to downplay the news, Biden made odd, passing references to the Jan. 6 insurrection and the Covid-19 pandemic—playing into the sense that maybe this show is nearing its sunset. Philip Elliott, Time, 8 May 2025 Sources said the Kings were also nearing an agreement with Mike Woodson, who is expected to serve as the lead assistant under head coach Doug Christie. Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 7 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for near
Recent Examples of Synonyms for near
Preposition
  • Regardless of what the answers to questions surrounding AI assistants may be, companies like The Image are advancing conversations around what AI assistance could look like moving forward.
    Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 17 May 2025
  • It’s set in the (fictional) city of Eddington, NM, where the local sheriff, Joaquin Phoenix’s Joe Cross, tools around town responding to minor crises like noise complaints.
    Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 17 May 2025
Adjective
  • The photo highlights the relative youth of human civilization by showing a 2,500-year-old temple that is ancient by the yardstick of human lives, alongside the 4.5 billion-year-old disk of Earth's moon, which has watched over humanity since our ancestors emerged from the oceans.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 13 May 2025
  • The rationale for this approach is not simply based on a subjective assessment of relative importance of the military’s major enterprises, but also to the second and third order effects such moves may have to U.S. influence and leadership around the world.
    David A. Deptula, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
Adjective
  • But Netanyahu said Tuesday that any new ceasefire deal reached -- for example to facilitate the release of more living hostages -- would be temporary.
    David Brennan, ABC News, 14 May 2025
  • With Asian elephants—its closest living relatives—facing a 22-month pregnancy and a decade-long wait for maturity, researchers needed a faster way to test their genetic edits.
    Scott Travers, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Among the close friends and family celebrating were Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban.
    Rachel Flynn, People.com, 24 May 2025
  • After the close, discount retailer Miniso Group (9896 HK, MSO US) missed Q1 estimates while online travel agency Tongcheng (780 HK) beat analyst expectations for Q1.
    Brendan Ahern, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
Adjective
  • Some of this uncertainty is coming from familiar sources, and some from new developments.
    Amanda Tickel, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
  • Poison ivy is a familiar example, but other dangerous plants include pokeweed, poison hemlock, giant hogweed and stinging nettle.
    Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 18 May 2025
Adverb
  • Back in the visiting clubhouse, Roberts watched the clock tick and tick and tick, eventually to the point where keeping Kershaw in was no longer a viable option.
    Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2025
  • That dollar figure could be added back in later in the budget process, but for now it is not guaranteed.
    Gene Maddaus, Variety, 23 May 2025
Adverb
  • With this one invention, millions of secretaries would soon be relieved of the drudgery of constant retyping, and the business office would have a boon in productivity almost as profound as the one the typewriter itself had ushered in long before.
    Pat Butler, Sportico.com, 16 May 2025
  • The school reported $2.11 million in other reportable compensation to Cohen, almost half of which would presumably cover the buyout.
    Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2025
Adverb
  • Now 68 and retired, Nelson has lived in a subsidized one-bedroom unit for about 10 years in Uptown and relies on her roughly $1,000 monthly Social Security payments to afford her approximately $230 monthly portion of rent and other expenses.
    Lizzie Kane, Chicago Tribune, 17 May 2025
  • Lightning hits the United States approximately 25 million times annually.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 17 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Near.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/near. Accessed 27 May. 2025.

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