nearly
word · lemma: near
/ˈnɪɹɫi/
NEER-lee
/nˈiəli/
NEE-uh-lee
Definition
Used to say that something is close to being complete, true, or a certain amount, but not fully or exactly so. It can also mean that something almost happened.
Usage & Nuances
Common before numbers and quantities: 'nearly 100 people'. Often similar to 'almost', but 'almost' is usually more common in everyday speech. 'Nearly' sounds slightly more formal in some contexts. Use 'not nearly' for emphasis: 'not nearly enough'.
Spanish: casiPortuguese (BR): quasePortuguese (PT): quaseChinese (Simplified): 几乎 - 差点Chinese (Traditional): 幾乎 - 差點Hindi: लगभग - लगभग हीArabic: تقريبًا - كادBengali: প্রায়Russian: почтиJapanese: ほとんど - もう少しでVietnamese: gần nhưKorean: 거의Turkish: neredeyseUrdu: تقریباًIndonesian: hampir
Example Sentences
That joke wasn't nearly as funny as you thought.
natural
The bottle is nearly empty.
basic
It took nearly an hour to get home.
basic
She nearly fell on the stairs.
basic
We're nearly there, just five more minutes.
natural
I've nearly finished, so give me a minute.
natural