Near | Mean of near in English Dictionary

/ˈniɚ/

• close to someone or something in distance
1. I hope that dog doesn't come any nearer (to me).
2. Be sure to have a fire extinguisher near at hand. [=close enough to reach easily]
3. We're getting nearer to the truth.
4. We came very near to canceling the trip. [=we almost canceled the trip]
5. Her new book is good, but it doesn't even come near to her first book. [=it is not nearly as good as her first book]
• not far away in time
1. The end of the long winter is near. [=it will happen soon]
2. He became more nervous as the day of the wedding drew near. [=approached; got closer]
• almost or nearly
1. The plant was near dead when I got it.
2. a near perfect score
3. The job is (damn/damned/darn) near impossible.

• based on what I know
1. As near as I can tell, we'll arrive by six o'clock.
• close to (something or someone)
1. I left the box near the door.
2. The cat won't go near fire.
3. She stood near me.
4. There are several beaches near here.
5. She came home near midnight.
6. We feared he was near death.
• located a short distance away
1. The nearest grocery store is three blocks away.
2. The airport is quite near. [=nearby]
• almost happening
1. The ceremony was a near disaster. [=was nearly a disaster]
2. After a near win [=after nearly winning] in the first competition, he is ready to try again.
3. (Brit) Our team won the match, but it was a very near thing. [=we almost lost the match]
• close to being something
1. Her victory is a near certainty. [=it is nearly certain that she will win]
2. a near miracle
3. celebrities and near celebrities [=people who are almost celebrities]
• most similar
1. The lake was the nearest thing to an ocean [=the thing most like an ocean] that she had ever seen.
• coming after someone or something
1. He finished the race ahead of his nearest rival by only a few feet.
• closely related
1. These two kinds of plants are near relatives.
2. Only near relations [=sisters, brothers, parents, etc.] were invited to the wedding.
• very close in relationship
1. friends who are near and dear
2. my nearest and dearest friend
• Verb
• to come closer in space or time to someone or something
1. As the date of the performance neared, we grew more and more anxious.
2. He always cheers up when baseball season nears.
3. The airplane began to descend as it neared the island.
4. He must be nearing 80 years of age.
5. The negotiators were nearing a decision.
6. The project is nearing completion. [=is almost finished]