Near Definition

nîr

neared, nearest, nearing, nears

adverb

At or to a relatively short distance in space or time.

Summer draws near.

Webster's New World

Just about; almost; nearly.

Was near exhausted from the climb.

American Heritage

Relatively close in degree; almost.

Near right.

Webster's New World

Closely; intimately.

Webster's New World

In a stingy manner.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Antonyms:
distant
far-away

adjective

nearest

Close in distance or time; not far.

Webster's New World

Close in relationship; akin.

Webster's New World

Closely related by kinship or association; intimate.

A near relative; a near and dear friend.

American Heritage

Close in feelings, desires, etc.; close in friendship.

Webster's New World

Just barely avoided.

A near hit by the incendiary bomb.

American Heritage

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

preposition

At a relatively short distance from in space, time, degree, etc.; close to.

Towns near the border, the hours near midnight.

Webster's New World

Close to.

An inn near London.

American Heritage

verb

neared, nearing, nears

To come close or closer to.

The plane neared the terminal.

American Heritage

To come or draw near (to); approach.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

Synonyms:
draw-near
go up
come on
approach
come near
draw close
juxtapose
appose

noun

The left side of a horse or of a team of horses pulling a carriage etc.

Wiktionary

Synonyms:

idiom

near at hand

very close in time or space

Webster's New World

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Near

near at hand

Origin of Near

From Middle English nere, ner, from Old English nÄ“ar (“nearer", comparative of nÄ“ah, "nigh"), influenced by Old Norse nÇ£r (“near"), both originating from Proto-Germanic *nÄ“hwiz (“nearer"), comparative of the adverb *nÄ“hw (“near"). Cognate with Old Frisian niār (“nearer"), Dutch naar (“to, towards"), Old High German nāhōr (“nearer"), Danish nÃ¥r (“when"), Swedish när (“when").

From Wiktionary
Middle English ner from Old English nēar from comparative of nēah close, near

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition