NEAR

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does near mean? 

• NEAR (adjective)
  The adjective NEAR has 6 senses:

1. not far distant in time or space or degree or circumstances

2. being on the left side

3. closely resembling the genuine article

4. giving or spending with reluctance

5. with or in a close or intimate relationship

6. very close in resemblance

  Familiarity information: NEAR used as an adjective is common.

• NEAR (verb)
  The verb NEAR has 1 sense:

1. move towards

  Familiarity information: NEAR used as a verb is very rare.

• NEAR (adverb)
  The adverb NEAR has 2 senses:

1. near in time or place or relationship

2. (of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

  Familiarity information: NEAR used as an adverb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• NEAR (adjective)

Comparative: nearer   
Superlative: nearest   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Not far distant in time or space or degree or circumstances

Synonyms:

close; near; nigh

Context example:

had a close call

Similar:

adjacent (near or close to but not necessarily touching)

hot (of a seeker; very near to the object sought)

warm (of a seeker; near to the object sought)

nearby (close at hand)

Attribute:

distance (the property created by the space between two objects or points)

Antonym:

far (located at a great distance in time or space or degree)

Derivation:

nearness (the spatial property resulting from a relatively small distance)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Being on the left side

Synonyms:

near; nigh

Context example:

the animal's left side is its near or nigh side

Similar:

left (being or located on or directed toward the side of the body to the west when facing north)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Closely resembling the genuine article

Context example:

a dress of near satin

Similar:

artificial; unreal (contrived by art rather than nature)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Giving or spending with reluctance

Synonyms:

cheeseparing; close; near; penny-pinching; skinny

Context example:

a penny-pinching miserly old man

Similar:

stingy; ungenerous (unwilling to spend (money, time, resources, etc.))

Sense 5

Meaning:

With or in a close or intimate relationship

Synonyms:

dear; good; near

Context example:

my sisters and brothers are near and dear

Similar:

close (close in relevance or relationship)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Very close in resemblance

Synonyms:

approximate; near

Context example:

a near likeness

Similar:

close (close in relevance or relationship)

• NEAR (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they near    ... he / she / it nears   
Past simple: neared   
Past participle: neared   
-ing form: nearing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Move towards

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

approach; come near; come on; draw close; draw near; go up; near

Context example:

The enemy army came nearer and nearer

Hypernyms (to "near" is one way to...):

come; come up (move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody)

"Near" entails doing...:

advance; go on; march on; move on; pass on; progress (move forward, also in the metaphorical sense)

Verb group:

approach; come near (come near in time)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "near"):

drive up (approach while driving)

bear down on; bear down upon (sail towards another vessel, of a ship)

edge in; edge up (push one's way into (a space))

close (draw near)

crowd; push (approach a certain age or speed)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something

• NEAR (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Near in time or place or relationship

Synonyms:

close; near; nigh

Context example:

don't get too close to the fire

Sense 2

Meaning:

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

Synonyms:

about; almost; most; near; nearly; nigh; virtually; well-nigh

Context example:

most everyone agrees

 Context examples 

Inflammation of the bone caused by an infection, which may spread to the bone marrow and tissues near the bone.

(Osteomyelitis, NCI Dictionary)

Palliative sedation may be used in patients who are near the end of life to make them more comfortable.

(Palliative sedation, NCI Dictionary)

This condition may be caused by a tumor on or near the pituitary gland, infection, stroke, injury, surgery, or radiation therapy.

(Panhypopituitarism, NCI Dictionary)

Oh, I must tell you that I came near having a quarrel with Laurie.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

The Overactive Bladder Questionnaire (OAB-q) Caused you to adjust your travel plans so that you are always near a restroom?

(OAB-q - Adjust Your Travel Plans so That You are Always Near a Restroom, NCI Thesaurus)

A type of surgery that attempts to save the nerves near the tissues being removed.

(Nerve-Sparing Prostatectomy, NCI Dictionary)

Before his eyes closed the wolves had drawn too near for safety.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Any surgery that attempts to preserve nerve function near the surgery site.

(Nerve-sparing surgery, NCI Thesaurus)

Body regions near to the esophagus.

(Paraesophageal, NCI Thesaurus)

A collection of cells that came from embryonic nervous tissue, and are found near the adrenal glands and some blood vessels and nerves.

(Paraganglia, NCI Dictionary)