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Glite Dictionary
🚶 To get closer 😬 To almost do ⏰ To approach (time)
to come near

to come near

56 1.8
To move closer in space or time
  • phrasal verb
  • /kʌm nɪr/
translation icon : acercarse
  • Margot told me not to come near you.

But if you come near a child, I will switch you off, right?

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Examples

Synonyms

to close
vsto come near
650 1.5

To move toward something to touch or hold it

focuses on the movement idea and is used as a short phrase
to approach
vsto come near
532 2.1

To move closer in space to a person or thing

is the same meaning but expressed as a short phrasal form
to come up
vsto come near
520 1.7

To move closer to a person or place

is the same idea but appears as an alternative phrasal form
to near
vsto come near
115 1.0

Move closer to someone or something

is the same action but usually expressed as a brief phrase
to come close
vsto come near
72 2.9

To be almost as good as something in quality or amount

expresses physical or temporal movement rather than similarity in amount
to come on
vsto come near
51 1.4

Move closer or begin to arrive, often gradually

means the same motion but is a different phrasal expression
to draw near
vsto come near
18 2.6

To move closer in place or time

shares the movement meaning but appears in a different phrasal form
to draw close
vsto come near
8 2.9

Move nearer to someone or something

conveys the same motion but is given as an alternative phrase
to verge
vsto come near
6 5.1

To come very close to being something

focuses on physical or temporal movement rather than on degree or likelihood

Antonyms

to pull away
86 3.5

To move away from people or a place to create space

to keep one's distance (from)
12 4.2

To stay away from people or things to avoid close contact

How Close

to come near
56 1.8
to hang back
34 4.6
to stay away
590 1.6

Surface Forms

come near infinitive
came near past
come near past participle
coming near present participle
comes near third person singular

Morphology

come + near

The meaning 'to be close to doing or experiencing something' is directly derivable from combining 'come' (move toward/arrive) with 'near' (close/almost). This composition — literal physical approach or closeness in degree (e.g., 'come near to doing something') — is a regular, cross-linguistic pattern and would be understandable to a B1 learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

Come near shows a simple image of someone moving closer. The verb come means to move and near means close, so the phrase is like stepping until you are right beside someone, and that's why it means 'move closer'.