near 1 of 4

Definition of nearnext
as in around
close to please don't cough near me

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

4 of 4

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
Caution should be used when in or near the water. Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 14 June 2026 Tree and five others died on Sunday morning when two helicopters collided near Rio de Janeiro, according to The Associated Press. Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
Adjective
Even after raising the largest-ever amount in an IPO, SpaceX still needs the market’s validation of its ambition to dominate AI and carry humans to the moon and Mars, as well as the company’s controversial governance regime that promises Musk near-total control. Bloomberg, Mercury News, 12 June 2026 Its near closure since the war began has sent the price of Brent up from roughly $70 per barrel and caused a wave of inflation for the world. Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
Adverb
The Scarborough Shoal, known in the Philippines as Bajo de Masinloc and in China as Huangyan Dao, sits within Manila's exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea, but Beijing has maintained a near-constant presence around the shoal after seizing de facto control in a tense 2012 standoff. James Laporta, CBS News, 11 June 2026 Breathwork, movement, nutrition, sleep education, and, in some clinics, near-infrared light or photobiomodulation (red-light therapy) round out the treatments. Melinda Fulmer, Robb Report, 11 June 2026
Verb
Xiaomi said the functions featured in the footage are already production-ready, suggesting that the technology is nearing commercial deployment. Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 13 June 2026 Gas prices have fallen toward $4 per gallon in recent weeks, nearing the milestone as oil costs have eased in response to negotiations between the United States and Iran. Max Zahn, ABC News, 13 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for near
Recent Examples of Synonyms for near
Preposition
  • The Coast Guard and partner search and rescue crews looked for him by air and sea, covering around 529 square miles, the statement said.
    Sofia Saric June 16, Miami Herald, 17 June 2026
  • The project area totals more than 2,000 acres, with around 550 acres being kept as an agricultural buffer.
    Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 17 June 2026
Adjective
  • That relative affordability is prompting some would-be buyers to sign leases instead, a more attainable but often deeply frustrating solution, and one that leaves them unable to accumulate wealth at the pace their parents’ and grandparents’ generations did.
    Jackie Cooperman, Architectural Digest, 16 June 2026
  • With gold continuing to surge in value, many watchmakers turned to platinum, a distinguished precious metal that suddenly looks like a relative value proposition.
    Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 16 June 2026
Adjective
  • Common spaces include a guest kitchen, lounge, and outdoor terrace, evoking a co-living space more than a standard hotel.
    Lauren Mowery, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
  • In theory, that would mean rewriting 18 million points of code to convert a living roan cell to a reborn bluebuck cell.
    Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • There wasn’t much excitement in the building, despite the fact that the game was close until the end.
    Nick Friedell, New York Times, 17 June 2026
  • He's remained close with the Solari family and has taken Teo Solari under his wing.
    Ryan Hughes, CBS News, 17 June 2026
Adjective
  • She is expected to appear Monday through Wednesday of next week, according to two people familiar with the matter.
    Brian Steinberg, Variety, 11 June 2026
  • The research is clear that a familiar, gentle fragrance can slow breathing, soften stress and turn a room into a memory.
    Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 11 June 2026
Adverb
  • The garment hugged her midsection in before fluttering out over her hips.
    Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 15 June 2026
  • Somers started to pull away in the final quarter with Accorsi scoring his first goal 12 seconds in to put Somers up 7-5.
    Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 15 June 2026
Adverb
  • Finland’s parliament on Wednesday voted to lift a decades-old ban on nuclear weapons, approving a major defense policy shift aimed at aligning the country more closely with North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) deterrence strategy.
    Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2026
  • The retailer employs a team of roughly 40 to 50 personal shoppers in Paris, who work closely with top-spending clients and serve as ambassadors for the store’s designer offering.
    Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 17 June 2026
Adverb
  • Julian Quinones almost scored his second goal moments later, but his shot hit the right post.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 12 June 2026
  • The lagoon, which wanders almost the entire length of the garden, adds a swath of blue to this oasis of green.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Near.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/near. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.

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