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2
as in almost
very close to but not completely
I nearly fell down the stairs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of nearly
Under its new editor, the paper has leaned into unsigned editorials with a centrist bent, publishing nearly one editorial board piece every day.
—
Max Tani, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Fifteen years ago, Ed Stafford became the first person to walk the entire length of the Amazon River—nearly 4,000 miles on foot.
—Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 5 Oct. 2025
The pair danced around each other all season, and nearly kissed in the finale.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Oct. 2025
More than 1 in 5 Americans will be 65 or older by 2040, and nearly 3 in 5 of them will need long-term services and support, according to a previous CNN report.
—Gina Park, CNN Money, 5 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nearly
Max Tani, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Fifteen years ago, Ed Stafford became the first person to walk the entire length of the Amazon River—nearly 4,000 miles on foot.
—Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 5 Oct. 2025
The pair danced around each other all season, and nearly kissed in the finale.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Oct. 2025
More than 1 in 5 Americans will be 65 or older by 2040, and nearly 3 in 5 of them will need long-term services and support, according to a previous CNN report.
—Gina Park, CNN Money, 5 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nearly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nearly
Adverb
-
Hilaria Baldwin and Scott Hoying followed closely behind with 22 points apiece.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Sep. 2025
-
An employee that stayed close to Ramos and Pegasus during his recent Holtz visit, for example, closely monitored the interactions, making sure the kids cleaned their hands properly and, at times, changed gowns following their interactions with the horse.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
30 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
There is, however, a region in its atmosphere at an altitude of over 31 miles (50 kilometers), where the temperature and pressure are almost Earth-like.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
1 Oct. 2025
-
The heartwarming footage quickly went viral earning over 1 million views and almost 19,500 likes since it was posted on September 27.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
Musk became practically a full-time litigant.—
Jacob Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Kistore Cropped Cardigan A cropped cardigan is such a space-saver in your carry-on, and this navy version goes with practically anything.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nearly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nearly. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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