NEAR
Dictionary entry overview: What does near mean?
• NEAR (adjective)
The adjective NEAR has 6 senses:
1. not far distant in time or space or degree or circumstances
2. being on the left side
3. closely resembling the genuine article
4. giving or spending with reluctance
5. with or in a close or intimate relationship
6. very close in resemblance
Familiarity information: NEAR used as an adjective is common.
• NEAR (verb)
The verb NEAR has 1 sense:
1. move towards
Familiarity information: NEAR used as a verb is very rare.
• NEAR (adverb)
The adverb NEAR has 2 senses:
1. near in time or place or relationship
2. (of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished
Familiarity information: NEAR used as an adverb is rare.
Dictionary entry details
• NEAR (adjective)
Meaning:
Not far distant in time or space or degree or circumstances
Synonyms:
nigh; near; close
Context examples:
near neighbors / in the near future / they are near equals / his nearest approach to success / a very near thing / a near hit by the bomb / she was near tears / she was close to tears / had a close call
Similar:
hot (of a seeker; very near to the object sought)
warm (of a seeker; near to the object sought)
neighboring; neighbouring (situated near one another)
nearby (close at hand)
adjacent (near or close to but not necessarily touching)
Attribute:
distance (the property created by the space between two objects or points)
Antonym:
far (at a great distance in time or space or degree)
Meaning:
Being on the left side
Synonyms:
nigh; near
Context examples:
the near or nigh horse is the one on the left / the animal's left side is its near or nigh side
Similar:
left (being or located on or directed toward the side of the body to the west when facing north)
Meaning:
Closely resembling the genuine article
Context examples:
near beer / a dress of near satin
Similar:
artificial; unreal (contrived by art rather than nature)
Meaning:
Giving or spending with reluctance
Synonyms:
penny-pinching; cheeseparing; near; skinny; close
Context examples:
our cheeseparing administration / very close (or near) with his money / a penny-pinching miserly old man
Similar:
stingy; ungenerous (unwilling to spend)
Meaning:
With or in a close or intimate relationship
Synonyms:
dear; near; good
Context examples:
a good friend / my sisters and brothers are near and dear
Similar:
close (close in relevance or relationship)
Meaning:
Very close in resemblance
Synonyms:
approximate; near
Context examples:
sketched in an approximate likeness / a near likeness
Similar:
close (close in relevance or relationship)
• NEAR (verb)
Meaning:
Move towards
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Synonyms:
approach; draw near; near; come near; come on; draw close; go up
Context examples:
We were approaching our destination / They are drawing near / The enemy army came nearer and nearer
Hypernyms (to "near" is one way to...):
come; come up (move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody)
"Near" entails doing...:
advance; go on; march on; move on; pass on; progress (move forward, also in the metaphorical sense)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "near"):
drive up (approach while driving)
bear down on; bear down upon (sail towards another vessel, of a ship)
edge in; edge up (push one's way into (a space))
close (draw near)
crowd; push (approach a certain age or speed)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
• NEAR (adverb)
Meaning:
Near in time or place or relationship
Synonyms:
close; near; nigh
Context examples:
as the wedding day drew near / stood near the door / don't shoot until they come near / getting near to the true explanation / her mother is always near / The end draws nigh / the bullet didn't come close / don't get too close to the fire
Meaning:
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished
Synonyms:
well-nigh; nearly; just about; almost; all but; virtually; nigh; near; most; about
Context examples:
the job is (just) about done / the baby was almost asleep when the alarm sounded / we're almost finished / the car all but ran her down / he nearly fainted / talked for nigh onto 2 hours / the recording is well-nigh perfect / virtually all the parties signed the contract / I was near exhausted by the run / most everyone agrees
