almost

1 of 2

adverb

al·​most ˈȯl-ˌmōst  ȯl-ˈmōst 

: very nearly but not exactly or entirely

We're almost there.

The work is almost done.

almost

2 of 2

adjective

: very near but not quite

an almost failure

Synonyms

Adverb

• about
• all but
• borderline
• fair [chiefly British]
• fairly
• feckly [chiefly Scottish]
• more or less
• most
• much
• near
• nearly
• next to
• nigh
• practically
• somewhere
• virtually
• well-nigh

Adjective

• approximate
• comparative
• near
• relative

Examples of almost in a Sentence

Adverb

Analysts predict that rates will rise by almost 40 percent.

Goats will eat almost anything.

Adjective

burdened with impossibly high expectations, the movie came to be regarded as an almost failure

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

About half of its missiles and drones reportedly malfunctioned; almost all of the rest were shot down by U.S., Israeli, U.K., and Jordanian forces. —Hussein Ibish, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2024

But by evening, almost all state and local police officers had disappeared. —Neelam Bohra, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

Middle English, from Old English ealmǣst, from eall + mǣst most

Adjective

derivative of almost entry 1

First Known Use

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1529, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing almost

• almost a certainty
• almost jump out of one's skin
• almost never
• almost no
• almost nothing

Kids Definition

almost

adverb

al·​most

ˈȯl-ˌmōst,

ȯl-ˈmōst

: only a little less than : nearly

we're almost finished