nearly
gb/nˈɪɹli/ us/nˈɪɹli/
A2
English
~ 900
Senses
0 senses
adverb
A2
property
1
Almost, but not quite
Almost, but not fully or exactly.
Usage pattern:
nearly [number/amount/adjective/verb phrase]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'nearly' with 'barely', but 'barely' means 'only just' and often implies something happened, while 'nearly' means it did not happen but came close.
Synonyms
almost (Interchangeable in most contexts, though 'almost' can sometimes sound slightly more formal.)
Antonyms
completely (Indicates full extent or totality, opposite of being just short of something.)
Collocations
nearly finished
|nearly impossible
|nearly identical
|nearly half
|nearly enough
Themes
daily life
|measurement
|time
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She nearly missed the bus this morning.
- It's nearly midnight, and he's still working.
- The glass is nearly full.
- We nearly won the game.
- He nearly forgot to lock the door.
Learner examples
- I nearly missed the train.
- It is nearly ten o'clock.
- The bag is nearly full.
- They nearly finished the work.
- She nearly fell down.
Grammar
Dictionary form
nearly
IPA
GB/nˈɪɹli/
US/nˈɪɹli/
Syllables & stress
nearly (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (nearly)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: nearly
- Plural: nearlies
Word family
Expressions
nearly all
1/nˈɪɹli ˈɔl/
fixed phrase
Almost every person or thing
Almost every person or thing in a group.
Examples
- Nearly all the students passed the test.
- Nearly all the shops are closed on Sundays.
nearly there
1/nˈɪɹli ðˈɛɹ/
fixed phrase
Close to finishing or arriving
Very close to finishing something or getting to a place.
Examples
- We’re nearly there, just five more minutes.
- The project is nearly there; we just need final approval.
not nearly
1/nˈɑt nˈɪɹli/
fixed phrase
Far from enough or sufficient
Much less than what is needed or expected.
Examples
- This is not nearly enough money to buy a car.
- He’s not nearly as tall as his brother.