next to 1 of 2

Definition of next tonext
1
as in near
close to enjoys living next to the ocean

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in after
subsequent to in time or order next to the war, the flagging economy was the biggest campaign issue

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

next to

2 of 2

adverb

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 next to
Preposition
Crying next to fiberglass whimsy is humbling. Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 11 Feb. 2026 The airport sits next to Biggs Army Airfield and is near the Mexican border, about 12 miles from Juarez, Mexico. Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2026
Adverb
Drifts and snow piled next to high traffic areas causes grass to collapse and mat. Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 13 Jan. 2026 Throughout the city, bare trees were weighed down with icicles and snow was piled up next to sidewalks. Illia Novikov, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for next to
Recent Examples of Synonyms for next to
Preposition
  • Knee-assist devices and exoskeletons often use simple bearings placed near the knee, which can create painful misalignment because a real knee hinges but also shifts, rolls, and slides.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Brown grew up in Franklin, a small city near the Kentucky-Tennessee border, and found his passion for music at a young age.
    Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 9 Feb. 2026
Preposition
  • His execution comes about a month after an emotional clemency hearing during which a parole board deciding his fate heard from the victims' families, a survivor of the shooting, and Simpson himself.
    Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 12 Feb. 2026
  • Baseball owners, with Dick Monfort playing a prominent role as a hawk in labor negotiations, are expected to lock out the players after this season, seeking a salary cap, believing that is the only reason the Dodgers win.
    Troy Renck, Denver Post, 12 Feb. 2026
Adverb
  • The majority of what remained was auctioned off by the French state in a wave of republican sentiment almost a hundred years later.
    Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Last year was almost certainly the first year of the 21st century that preventable child mortality went up rather than down.
    Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Preposition
  • Since June, federal immigration raids have disrupted neighborhoods and communities across Los Angeles and around the nation, including at work sites, along neighborhood streets and in commercial areas.
    Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Beyond the physical health risks, doctors and lawyers warn the societal shame around menstruation has a corrosive impact on women’s mental wellbeing and sense of self.
    Sana Noor Haq, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
Adverb
  • Over the course of his Chelsea career, Fernandez has utterly transformed his shot profile, nearly halving the average distance of his attempts.
    Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2026
  • For nearly a day, nothing happened.
    Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
Adverb
  • The talented Czech goalies are practically salivating at the opportunity.
    Jesse Granger, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Assuming Crawford or another starter candidate fills the long-relief role, the rest of the bullpen looks practically set.
    Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 8 Feb. 2026
Preposition
  • Teacher Claire Jakubiszyn knelt beside a 7-year-old boy, counting beads for an art project.
    Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
  • The apartment was unusually still, my coffee beside me gone cold, as if bracing for what would come next.
    Adrianne Wright, Fortune, 11 Feb. 2026
Preposition
  • His exit was immediate; he has been replaced by the mayor pro tem, just as Sawyer replaced Nail before the collapse of the police force, and the council will decide whether to hold a special election later this month.
    Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
  • The tunnel project, the nation's largest infrastructure project, would expand train service between New York and New Jersey along the nation’s busiest rail corridor by adding a new rail tunnel and rehabilitating the existing 115-year-old pair of tunnels under the Hudson River.
    Joey Garrison, USA Today, 7 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Next to.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/next%20to. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.

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