Near

• POS: Noun, Preposition, Verb (usu participle), Adverb

CIDE DICTIONARY

Near, adv. [AS. neár, compar. of neáh nigh. See Nigh.].

•  At a little distance, in place, time, manner, or degree; not remote; nigh.  [1913 Webster]

  "My wife! my traitress! let her not come near me."  [1913 Webster]
•  Nearly; almost; well-nigh.  Addison.  [1913 Webster]

  "Near about the yearly value of the land."  [1913 Webster]
•  Closely; intimately.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]

Far and near, at a distance and close by; throughout a whole region. -- To come near to, to want but little of; to approximate to. “Such a sum he found would go near to ruin him.” Addison. -- Near the wind (Naut.), close to the wind; closehauled.

Near, a. [See Near, adv.].

•  Not far distant in time, place, or degree; not remote; close at hand; adjacent; neighboring; nigh.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]

  "He served great Hector, and was ever near,
  Not with his trumpet only, but his spear."  [1913 Webster]
•  Closely connected or related.  [1913 Webster]

  "She is thy father's near kinswoman."  [1913 Webster]
•  Close to one's interests, affection, etc.; touching, or affecting intimately; intimate; dear; as, a near friend.  [1913 Webster]
•  Close to anything followed or imitated; not free, loose, or rambling; as, a version near to the original.  [1913 Webster]
•  So as barely to avoid or pass injury or loss; close; narrow{3}; as, a near escape; a near miss.  [1913 Webster]
•  Next to the driver, when he is on foot; in the Unted States, on the left of an animal or a team; as, the near ox; the near leg. See Off side, under Off, a.  [1913 Webster]
•  Immediate; direct; close; short.  Milton.  [1913 Webster]
•  Close-fisted; parsimonious.  [1913 Webster]

  " Near may properly be followed by to before the thing approached; but more frequently to is omitted, and the adjective or the adverb is regarded as a preposition. The same is also true of the word nigh."  [1913 Webster]

Syn. -- Nigh; close; adjacent; proximate; contiguous; present; ready; intimate; familiar; dear.

Near, prep. 

 Adjacent to; close by; not far from; nigh; as, the ship sailed near the land. See the Note under near, a.  [1913 Webster]

Near, v. t. [See Near, adv.].

 To approach; to come nearer; as, the ship neared the land.  [1913 Webster]

Near, v. i. 

 To draw near; to approach.  [1913 Webster]
"A speck, a mist, a shape, I wist!
And still it neared, and neared."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Near, adv., prep., adj., & v.
--adv.
1 (often foll. by to) to or at a short distance in space or time; close by (the time drew near; dropped near to them).
2 closely (as near as one can guess).
3 archaic almost, nearly (very near died).
4 archaic parsimoniously; meanly (lives very near).
--prep. (compar. & superl. also used)
1 to or at a short distance (in space, time, condition, or resemblance) from (stood near the back; occurs nearer the end; the sun is near setting).
2 (in comb.) a that is almost (near-hysterical; a near-Communist). b intended as a substitute for; resembling (near-beer).
--adj.
1 (usu. predic.) close at hand; close to, in place or time (the man nearest you; in the near future).
2 a closely related (a near relation). b intimate (a near friend).
3 (of a part of a vehicle, animal, or road) left (the near fore leg; near side front wheel (orig. of the side from which one mounted)) (opp. OFF).
4 close; narrow (a near escape; a near guess).
5 (of a road or way) direct.
6 niggardly, mean.
--v.
1 tr. approach; draw near to (neared the harbour).
2 intr. draw near (could distinguish them as they neared).

Idiom

come (or go) near (foll. by verbal noun, or to + verbal noun) be on the point of, almost succeed in (came near to falling). go near (foll. by to + infin.) narrowly fail. near at hand
1 within easy reach.
2 in the immediate future. the Near East the region comprising the countries of the eastern Mediterranean. Near Eastern of the Near East. near go colloq. a narrow escape. near the knuckle colloq. verging on the indecent.
near miss
1 (of a bomb etc.) close to the target.
2 a situation in which a collision is narrowly avoided.
3 (of an attempt) almost but not quite successful. near sight esp. US = short sight. near thing a narrow escape. near upon archaic not far in time from.

Derivative

nearish adj. nearness n.

Etymology

ME f. ON n{aelig}r, orig. compar. of n{aacute} = OE neah NIGH

THESAURUS

Near

about, about to be, abutting, accost, adjacent, adjoining, advance, advancing, all but, almost, along toward, already in sight, among, angustifoliate, angustirostrate, angustisellate, angustiseptal, anticipate, ape, appear like, approach, approaching, appropinquate, approximate, approximating, approximative, arm-in-arm, around, as good as, aside, at, at close quarters, at hand, at next hand, attached, attracted to, avaricious, await, be destined, be fated, be imminent, be in store, be like, be redolent of, be to be, be to come, bear down on, bear down upon, bear resemblance, bear up, beside, bordering on, brew, brewing, bring to mind, burning, by, call to mind, call up, cheap, cheek-by-jowl, circa, circumscribed, close, close about, close at hand, close by, close in, close to, close upon, close with, close-by, close-fitting, closefisted, closely, come, come close, come closer, come forward, come near, come on, come up, coming, comparable, compare with, confined, confront, connected, constricted, contiguous, converge, copy, correspond, counterclockwise, counterfeit, cramp, cramped, crowded, draw near, draw nigh, draw on, drawn to, encounter, equal, evoke, expect, face, familiar, fast by, favor, follow, foresee, foretell, forthcome, forthcoming, from, future, gain upon, gather, gathering, going to happen, hairbreadth, hand and glove, hand-in-hand, hang over, hard, hard by, hard on, hardfisted, hereabout, hereabouts, homologous, hope, hot, hover, illiberal, imitate, immediate, imminent, impend, impendent, impending, in, in danger imminent, in prospect, in reserve, in spitting distance, in store, in the cards, in the offing, in the wind, in view, incapacious, incommodious, inseparable, instant, intimate, isthmian, isthmic, just about, larboard, lean towards, left, left-hand, left-wing, left-wingish, levorotatory, liberal, lie ahead, lie over, like, limited, look for, look forward to, look like, loom, looming, lower, lowering, lurking, match, meager, mean, menace, menacing, mimic, mirror, miserly, much at one, much the same, narrow, narrow the gap, near at hand, near the mark, near to, near upon, nearabout, nearabouts, nearby, nearing, nearish, nearly, nearly reproduce, nearly the same, next door to, next to, niggardly, nigh, nigh about, nighhand, nighish, not far, not far from, not quite, not tell apart, on, on the horizon, oncoming, only a step, overhang, overhanging, parallel, parsimonious, partake of, penny-pinching, penurious, pinchfisted, pinching, plan, plot, port, predict, preparing, pretty near, project, prophesy, propinque, proximal, proximate, quasi, radical, relatable, related, relative, remind one of, resemble, restricted, rival, round, same but different, save-all, savor of, scant, scanty, seem like, selfish, side-by-side, sidle up to, similar, simulate, sinister, sinistral, sinistrocerebral, sinistrocular, sinistrogyrate, sinistrorse, slender, smack of, sound like, stack up with, step up, stingy, strait, suggest, take after, that will be, thereabout, thereabouts, thick, thick as thieves, threaten, threatening, tight, tight-fisted, tightfisted, to, to come, touch, toward, ungenerous, upcoming, verge on, verging on, verging upon, vicinal, virtually, waiting, warm, well-nigh, with, within call, within earshot, within hearing, within reach, within sight

ROGET THESAURUS

Near

Similarity

N similarity, resemblance, likeness, similitude, semblance, affinity, approximation, parallelism, agreement, analogy, analogicalness, correspondence, homoiousia, parity, connaturalness, connaturality, brotherhood, family likeness, alliteration, rhyme, pun, repetition, sameness, uniformity, isogamy, analogue, the like, match, pendant, fellow companion, pair, mate, twin, double, counterpart, brother, sister, one's second self, alter ego, chip of the old block, par nobile fratrum, Arcades ambo, birds of a feather, et hoc genus omne, gens de meme famille, parallel, simile, type, image, photograph, close resemblance, striking resemblance, speaking resemblance, faithful likeness, faithful resemblance, similar, resembling, like, alike, twin, analogous, analogical, parallel, of a piece, such as, so, homoiousian, connatural, congener, allied to, akin to, approximate, much the same, near, close, something like, sort of, in the ballpark, such like, a show of, mock, pseudo, simulating, representing, exact, lifelike, faithful, true to nature, true to life, the very image, the very picture of, for all the world like, comme deux gouttes d'eau, as like as two peas in a pod, as like as it can stare, instar omnium, cast in the same mold, ridiculously like, as if, so to speak, as it were, as if it were, quasi, just as, veluti in speculum, et sic de similibus, tel maitre tel valet, tel pere tel fils, like master, like servant, like father, like son, the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree, a chip off the old block.

Futurity

N futurity, futurition, future, hereafter, time to come, approaching time, coming time, subsequent time, after time, approaching age, coming age, subsequent age, after age, approaching days, coming days, subsequent days, after days, approaching hours, coming hours, subsequent hours, after hours, approaching ages, coming ages, subsequent ages, after ages, approaching life, coming life, subsequent life, after life, approaching years, coming years, subsequent years, after years, morrow, millennium, doomsday, day of judgment, crack of doom, remote future, approach of time advent, time drawing on, womb of time, destiny, eventuality, heritage, heirs posterity, prospect, foresight, future, to come, coming, next, near, close at hand, eventual, ulterior, in prospect, prospectively, hereafter, in future, kal, tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, in course of time, in process of time, in the fullness of time, eventually, ultimately, sooner or later, proximo, paulo post futurum, in after time, one of these days, after a time, after a while, from this time, henceforth, henceforwards, thence, thenceforth, thenceforward, whereupon, upon which, soon, on the eve of, on the point of, on the brink of, about to, close upon, quid sit futurum cras fuge quaerere.

Earliness

N earliness, morning, punctuality, promptitude, haste, suddenness, prematurity, precocity, precipitation, anticipation, a stitch in time, early, prime, forward, prompt, summary, premature, precipitate, precocious, prevenient, anticipatory, rath, sudden, unexpected, near, near at hand, immediate, early, soon, anon, betimes, rath, eft, eftsoons, ere long, before long, shortly, beforehand, prematurely, precipitately, too soon, before its time, before one's time, in anticipation, unexpectedly, suddenly, before one can say 'Jack Robinson', at short notice, extempore, on the spur of the moment, on the spur of the occasion, at once, on the spot, on the instant, at sight, offhand, out of hand, a' vue d'oeil, straight, straightway, straightforth, forthwith, incontinently, summarily, immediately, briefly, shortly, quickly, speedily, apace, before the ink is dry, almost immediately, presently at the first opportunity, in no long time, by and by, in a while, directly, no sooner said than done, immediately, if not sooner, tout vient a temps pour qui sait attendre.

Destiny

N destiny, future existence, post existence, hereafter, future state, next world, world to come, after life, futurity, everlasting life, everlasting death, life beyond the grave, world beyond the grave, prospect, impending, destined, about to be, happen, coming, in store, to come, going to happen, instant, at hand, near, near, close at hand, over hanging, hanging over one's head, imminent, brewing, preparing, forthcoming, int he wind, on the cards, in reserve, that will, is to be, in prospect, looming in the distance, horizon, future, unborn, in embryo, int he womb of time, futurity, pregnant, in time, the long run, all in good time, eventually, whatever may happen, as chance would have it, destiny, future existence, post existence, hereafter, future state, next world, world to come, after life, futurity, everlasting life, everlasting death, life beyond the grave, world beyond the grave, prospect, impending, destined, about to be, happen, coming, in store, to come, going to happen, instant, at hand, near, near, close at hand, over hanging, hanging over one's head, imminent, brewing, preparing, forthcoming, int he wind, on the cards, in reserve, that will, is to be, in prospect, looming in the distance, horizon, future, unborn, in embryo, int he womb of time, futurity, pregnant, in time, the long run, all in good time, eventually, whatever may happen, as chance would have it.

Parsimony

N parsimony, parcity, parsimoniousness, stinginess, stint, illiberality, tenacity, avarice, greed, miser, niggard, churl, screw, skinflint, crib, codger, muckworm, scrimp, lickpenny, hunks, curmudgeon, Harpagon, harpy, extortioner, Jew, usurer, Hessian, pinch fist, pinch penny, parsimonious, penurious, stingy, miserly, mean, shabby, peddling, scrubby, penny wise, near, niggardly, close, fast handed, close handed, strait handed, close fisted, hard fisted, tight fisted, tight, sparing, chary, grudging, griping, illiberal, ungenerous, churlish, hidebound, sordid, mercenary, venal, covetous, usurious, avaricious, greedy, extortionate, rapacious, with a sparing hand, desunt inopioe multa avaritiae omnia, hoards after hoards his rising raptures fill, the unsunn'd heaps of miser's treasures.

Nearness

N nearness, proximity, propinquity, vicinity, vicinage, neighborhood, adjacency, contiguity, short distance, short step, short cut, earshot, close quarters, stone's throw, bow shot, gun shot, pistol shot, hair's breadth, span, purlieus, neighborhood, vicinage, environs, alentours, suburbs, confines, banlieue, borderland, whereabouts, bystander, neighbor, borderer, approach, convergence, perihelion, near, nigh, close at hand, near at hand, close, neighboring, bordering upon, contiguous, adjacent, adjoining, proximate, proximal, at hand, handy, near the mark, near run, home, intimate, near, nigh, hard by, fast by, close to, close upon, hard upon, at the point of, next door to, within reach, within call, within hearing, within earshot, within an ace of, but a step, not far from, at no great distance, on the verge of, on the brink of, on the skirts of, in the environs, at one's door, at one's feet, at one's elbow, at one's finger's end, at one's side, on the tip of one's tongue, under one's nose, within a stone's throw, in sight of, in presence of, at close quarters, cheek by jole, cheek by jowl, beside, alongside, side by side, tete-a-tete, in juxtaposition, yardarm to yardarm, at the heels of, on the confines of, at the threshold, bordering upon, verging to, in the way, about, hereabouts, thereabouts, roughly, in round numbers, approximately, approximatively, as good as, well-nigh, nearness, proximity, propinquity, vicinity, vicinage, neighborhood, adjacency, contiguity, short distance, short step, short cut, earshot, close quarters, stone's throw, bow shot, gun shot, pistol shot, hair's breadth, span, purlieus, neighborhood, vicinage, environs, alentours, suburbs, confines, banlieue, borderland, whereabouts, bystander, neighbor, borderer, approach, convergence, perihelion, near, nigh, close at hand, near at hand, close, neighboring, bordering upon, contiguous, adjacent, adjoining, proximate, proximal, at hand, handy, near the mark, near run, home, intimate, near, nigh, hard by, fast by, close to, close upon, hard upon, at the point of, next door to, within reach, within call, within hearing, within earshot, within an ace of, but a step, not far from, at no great distance, on the verge of, on the brink of, on the skirts of, in the environs, at one's door, at one's feet, at one's elbow, at one's finger's end, at one's side, on the tip of one's tongue, under one's nose, within a stone's throw, in sight of, in presence of, at close quarters, cheek by jole, cheek by jowl, beside, alongside, side by side, tete-a-tete, in juxtaposition, yardarm to yardarm, at the heels of, on the confines of, at the threshold, bordering upon, verging to, in the way, about, hereabouts, thereabouts, roughly, in round numbers, approximately, approximatively, as good as, well-nigh.

Approach

VB approach, approximate, appropinquate, near, get near, go near, draw near, come to close quarters, come near, move towards, set in towards, drift, make up to, gain upon, pursue, tread on the heels of, bear up, make the land, hug the shore, hug the land.