to near

Examples

• All

• We're nearing the target.

  South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999)

• We must be nearing some sort of water.

  Trader Horn (1931)

• But if they start nearing their breaking point, you calm them down.

• I am pleased to see that your mission is nearing completion.

  Absolution (1997)

• Another issue was the stress expressed by teachers as they neared the state testing time in the spring.

  Academic text (2012)

• As the spring of 1994 nears, both the pace of work and the excitement are building up.

  Academic text (1993)

• But when you know you're nearing the end point, what should you do?

• Practice nurses, as a demographic group, tend to be older, and many are nearing retirement.

  Academic text (2012)

• All are listening to Professor Emanuel Stern, who is nearing the end of his lecture.

  Fiction book (1990)

• Passengers reported that hope began to blossom as the ship neared the end of its two-week journey.

  Academic text (2017)

Synonyms

C

to close

vsto near

650 1.5

To move toward something to touch or hold it

refers only to movement without suggesting social engagement

A

to approach

vsto near

532 2.1

To move closer in space to a person or thing

is the basic idea of moving toward something physically or in time

G

to get closer to

vsto near

105 1.9

Make progress toward finishing or achieving something

focuses on physical reduction of distance rather than goal progress

C

to come near

vsto near

56 1.8

To move closer in space or time

expresses the same idea of reducing distance in space or time

D

to draw near

vsto near

18 2.6

To move closer in place or time

is the general movement without the gentle or gradual nuance

D

to draw close

vsto near

8 2.9

Move nearer to someone or something

is the neutral movement without the implied pull or attraction

Antonyms

P

to pull away

86 3.5

To move away from people or a place to create space

Idioms

F

far and near

1 3.7

It happens in many places both near and far

N

near as damn it

• NSFW

1 9.4

Almost exactly right

N

near the mark

1 4.1

Almost correct but missing some details

Phrasal Verbs

C

to come near

56 1.8

To move closer in space or time

D

to draw near

18 2.6

To move closer in place or time

C

to come near

2 3.0

To almost do or experience something without doing it

C

to come near

2.1

To be near in time and about to happen

Compounds

N

near-death experience

32 6.7

An experience people have when they almost die, often seeing light or feeling peace

N

near miss

14 3.7

A time when a crash nearly happens but is avoided

N

Near East

7 4.3

A region around the eastern Mediterranean that includes parts of Southwest Asia and Egypt

N

near beer

• Archaic

1 5.1

A drink that tastes like beer but has very little alcohol

N

near thing

• Informal

1 6.6

A situation when something bad almost happens but does not

N

near gale

• Specialized

7.7

A very strong wind that blows at about 60 to 70 kilometres per hour

N

near vision

• Specialized

3.2

The ability to see things clearly close to your eyes

How Close

to reach

∞ 1.1

to near

115 1.0

to approach

532 2.1

Surface Forms

Etymology