Near Definition
near
adverb
- near in time or place or relationship; "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"
- (of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but; "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"
adjective
- not far distant in time or space or degree or circumstances; "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"
- being on the left side; "the near or nigh horse is the one on the left"; "the animal's left side is its near or nigh side"
- closely resembling the genuine article; "near beer"; "a dress of near satin"
- giving or spending with reluctance; "our cheeseparing administration"; "very close (or near) with his money"; "a penny-pinching miserly old man"
- with or in a close or intimate relationship; "a good friend"; "my sisters and brothers are near and dear"
- very close in resemblance; "sketched in an approximate likeness"; "a near likeness"
verb
- move towards; "We were approaching our destination"; "They are drawing near"; "The enemy army came nearer and nearer"
"Near" in song lyrics
See how near is used in real songs:
-
"Makin' love, holdin' you near"
2 Live Crew — C'mon Babe -
"Bow down to the best from far and near"
2 Live Crew — 2 Live is Here -
"Cause I know that my time is real motherfuckin near"
4 Deep — Ain't No Luv
Words that rhyme with near
Usage tips for "near"
Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "near" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for near to find words that pair well.