What does nearly mean?
Nearly is an adverb meaning “almost” or “not quite.” It describes something that is very close to a particular condition, amount, or outcome without claiming exactness: a task may be nearly complete, a person may nearly arrive, or a figure may be nearly 50 percent. The word is especially useful because it conveys a small but meaningful remaining difference. “Nearly finished” does not mean the work is finished, while “nearly everyone” suggests that almost all relevant people are included without making an absolute claim. In everyday speech, nearly and “almost” are largely interchangeable, although nearly can sometimes sound slightly more formal or emphasize a measurable gap, as in “nearly double.” It is used across British and American English in both speech and writing, often with words such as all, always, enough, and there.
adverbAlmost, but not quite. It is used to indicate that something is very close to being true, complete, or achieved, without stating that it is exactly so.
- Almost; in a state very close to a particular condition or outcome.
- Close or nearly equal to a particular amount, level, or degree.
"The report is nearly finished, but several figures still need checking."
"We nearly missed the last train."
"The temperature is nearly 30 degrees, but it feels cooler in the shade."
Nearly is a precise word for that tantalizing moment when the finish line is in sight but not yet reached.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does nearly come from?
Nearly was formed in the Middle English period by adding the suffix -ly to near, following the ordinary English pattern for forming adverbs from adjectives. Near descends from Old English nēah, meaning “close” or “near,” and is related to nigh, as well as to neighbour, which developed from the Old English compound nēahbur. The development reflects the long-standing relationship between the adjective near and the adverb nearly: the latter originally expressed the idea of being close to a place or condition, before acquiring its modern sense of “almost.”
How nearly is actually used
Nearly is standard in formal and informal English. It commonly appears before quantities or limiting terms such as all, always, enough, and there, and it can imply that an expected result was approached but not achieved.
Easily confused with nearly
Near is an adjective or preposition describing physical or figurative closeness, while nearly is an adverb meaning almost or not quite.
Nigh means near or almost, but it has a more literary or archaic tone; nearly is the usual modern equivalent.