near

pronunciation

How to pronounce near in British English: UK [nɪə(r)] word uk audio image

How to pronounce near in American English: US [nɪr] word us audio image

Verb:

move towards
Adjective:

not far distant in time or space or degree or circumstances
being on the left side
closely resembling the genuine article
giving or spending with reluctance
with or in a close or intimate relationship
very close in resemblance
Adverb:

near in time or place or relationship
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; `near' is sometimes used informally for `nearly' and `most' is sometimes used informally for `almost'

Word Origin

near: near: [12] Historically, near is a comparative form, and its ancestor originally meant ‘nearer’. It was borrowed from Old Norse náer, the comparative of ná- ‘near’, which came from the same prehistoric Germanic source as produced English nigh [OE] and next (not to mention German nah ‘near’). By the time it reached English it had lost its comparative force, and simply meant ‘close’ (which is also the sense of its modern Scandinavian descendants, Swedish nära and Danish nær).=> neighbour, next, nigh

near (adv.): Old English near "closer, nearer," comparative of neah, neh"nigh." Influenced by Old Norse naer "near," it came to be used as a positive form mid-13c., and new comparative nearer developed 1500s (see nigh). As an adjective from c. 1300. Originally an adverb but now supplanted in most such senses by nearly; it has in turn supplanted correct nigh as an adjective. Related: Nearness. In near and dear (1620s) it refers to nearness of kinship. Near East first attested 1891, in Kipling. Near beer "low-alcoholic brew" is from 1908.

near (v.): "to draw near," 1510s, from near (adv.). Related: Neared; nearing.

adj.