1
: in a close manner or relationship
nearly related
2
a
: almost but not quite
nearly identical
nearly a year later
b
: to the least extent
not nearly as good as we expected
Examples of nearly in a Sentence
I see her nearly every day.
We lived there for nearly two years.
Nearly all of us got sick that weekend.
Recent Examples on the Web
The rejection of the plan sends Kelly and GOP leadership back to the drawing board after nearly two years of squabbles over Kansas’ income tax structure.
—
Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2024
Sunday’s theft comes nearly two years after the multimillion-dollar heist of jewelry from a Brink’s big rig at a Grapevine truck stop.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
The campaign raised nearly $1.5 million from 900 donors, which Northland officials called a record.
—Kelly Meyerhofer, Journal Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2024
All that work has been expensive: The district budgeted more than $31 million for school climate advocates, $16 million for restorative justice teachers and nearly $9 million for the support advocates for this school year.
—Gail Cornwall, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
The mission was a disaster, resulting in nearly 500 American deaths.
—Yaakov Zinberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Apr. 2024
So far, the fundraiser has raised nearly half a million dollars since the donation portal opened in February, Flavia Llizo, co-president and chief development officer for the Jackson Health Foundation, told the Miami Herald.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2024
Since September, 777 has injected more than £150 million ($189 million) into Everton to cover working capital requirements and allow construction of a nearly 53,000-seat stadium in Liverpool’s Bramley docks.
—David Hellier, Fortune, 23 Mar. 2024
For example, construction workers recently unearthed a nearly 2,000-year-old statue while building a parking lot in the United Kingdom.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 23 Mar. 2024
Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2024
Sunday’s theft comes nearly two years after the multimillion-dollar heist of jewelry from a Brink’s big rig at a Grapevine truck stop.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
The campaign raised nearly $1.5 million from 900 donors, which Northland officials called a record.
—Kelly Meyerhofer, Journal Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2024
All that work has been expensive: The district budgeted more than $31 million for school climate advocates, $16 million for restorative justice teachers and nearly $9 million for the support advocates for this school year.
—Gail Cornwall, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
The mission was a disaster, resulting in nearly 500 American deaths.
—Yaakov Zinberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Apr. 2024
So far, the fundraiser has raised nearly half a million dollars since the donation portal opened in February, Flavia Llizo, co-president and chief development officer for the Jackson Health Foundation, told the Miami Herald.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2024
Since September, 777 has injected more than £150 million ($189 million) into Everton to cover working capital requirements and allow construction of a nearly 53,000-seat stadium in Liverpool’s Bramley docks.
—David Hellier, Fortune, 23 Mar. 2024
For example, construction workers recently unearthed a nearly 2,000-year-old statue while building a parking lot in the United Kingdom.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 23 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nearly.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1561, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing nearly
Dictionary Entries Near nearly
Cite this Entry
“Nearly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nearly. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
nearly
adverb
near·ly
ˈni(ə)r-lē 
1
: in a close manner or relationship
nearly related
2
: almost but not quite
nearly the same
nearly missed the train
3
: to the least extent
not nearly enough
More from Merriam-Webster on nearly
Nglish: Translation of nearly for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of nearly for Arabic Speakers
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