nigh
gb/nˈaɪ/ us/nˈaɪ/
C1
English
szinte, majdnem, közel
C1
LITERARY
1
Usage pattern:
nigh [adjective/adverb]; nigh on [number/amount/time]
Without the key, getting in was nigh impossible.
A kulcs nélkül szinte lehetetlen volt bejutni.
After working through the night, she was nigh exhausted.
Miután egész éjjel dolgozott, szinte teljesen kimerült.
It took nigh on three hours to reach the station in the storm.
Learner examples
The bag was nigh empty.
A táska szinte üres volt.
The job is nigh impossible.
Ez a munka szinte lehetetlen.
Common mistake:
In modern English, nigh is much less common than almost or nearly and can sound literary or old-fashioned.
Meaning
almost; very nearly
Collocations
nigh impossible
|nigh certain
|nigh perfect
|nigh universal
|nigh on ten years
|nigh on a hundred
|nigh identical
|nigh constant
|nigh unbelievable
|nigh unthinkable
Synonyms
almost (More common and neutral.)
|
nearly (More common; often slightly more literal/precise.)
|
practically (Often adds a casual, emphatic tone.)
Antonyms
exactly (Indicates no difference or approximation.)
|
barely (Suggests only just, by a small margin (opposite direction).)
Themes
degree
|description
Definition
Almost; nearly.
To a degree that is almost complete; nearly.
C1
LITERARY
2
közel
A1
Usage pattern:
be nigh; nigh [place/thing]; nigh to [something]
With dusk nigh, they turned back toward the village.
Mivel közeledett az alkonyat, visszafordultak a falu felé.
The deadline was nigh, so everyone stayed late.
Közel volt a határidő, ezért mindenki sokáig bent maradt.
She lived nigh the river for years before moving to the city.
Learner examples
The end is nigh.
Közel van a vég.
Home is nigh.
Már közel van az otthonunk.
Common mistake:
Learners may treat nigh as a normal modern synonym of near; in most everyday contexts, near/close is preferred.
Meaning
near; close by or soon
Collocations
the time is nigh
|the end is nigh
|danger is nigh
|victory is nigh
|nigh the end
|nigh the shore
|nigh the border
|nigh to midnight
Synonyms
near (Neutral and most common.)
|
close (Often implies a smaller distance or stronger immediacy.)
|
imminent (More formal; mainly about something happening soon.)
Antonyms
far (Not near in distance.)
|
distant (Far away in space or time; less immediate.)
Themes
time
|space
|description
Definition
Near; close (in place or time).
Near in space or time; close by, or about to happen soon.
Grammar
Dictionary form
nigh
IPA
GB/nˈaɪ/
US/nˈaɪ/
Syllables & stress
nigh (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (nigh)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: nigh
Word family
Expressions
as nigh as [someone] can tell
1/ˈæz nˈaɪ ˈæz sˈʌmwˌʌn kən tˈɛl/
fixed phrase
literary
as far as one can tell
As far as I/you/we can tell.
Examples
- As nigh as I can tell, the package was never shipped.
- As nigh as we can tell, nobody was injured.
- As nigh as she could tell, the meeting had been canceled.
Learner examples
- As nigh as I can tell, it’s fine.
come nigh
1/kˈʌm nˈaɪ/
fixed phrase
literary
come close; nearly happen
To come close; to almost reach or match.
Examples
- No recent film has come nigh to the original.
- They came nigh to winning, but lost in the final minutes.
- Her second attempt never came nigh to the first.
draw nigh
1/dɹˈɔ nˈaɪ/
fixed phrase
literary
approach; come close
To come nearer; to approach.
Examples
- As the interview drew nigh, he grew more nervous.
- Night drew nigh and the temperature dropped quickly.
- The ship drew nigh to the harbor at dawn.
Learner examples
- The deadline draws nigh.
nigh on
1/nˈaɪ ˈɔn/
fixed phrase
literary
almost; nearly (esp. numbers)
Almost; nearly (often with numbers).
Examples
- It took nigh on an hour to get a taxi.
- They’ve been friends for nigh on twenty years.
- The queue was nigh on a mile long.
Learner examples
- It’s nigh on midnight.
- It took nigh on two hours.
nigh unto
1/nˈaɪ ˈʌntu/
fixed phrase
archaic
near to (very formal)
Near to; close to (old-fashioned).
Examples
- They had come nigh unto the city gates before anyone noticed.
- The crisis brought him nigh unto despair.
- She felt nigh unto tears during the farewell.
the end is nigh
1/ðə ˈɛnd ˈɪz nˈaɪ/
fixed phrase
the end is near
The end is near (often said jokingly).
Examples
- When the server crashed again, someone joked, ‘The end is nigh.’
- He walked around with a sign that read ‘The end is nigh.’
- With the company running out of money, it felt like the end was nigh.
Learner examples
- He said, ‘The end is nigh.’