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 11-billion-euro ($13 billion) Lyon-Turin High-Speed Rail Tunnel extends more than 65 kilometers (40 miles) with 57½ kilometers (nearly 36 miles) of the Mont Cenis base tunnel running underground from Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, France and Susa, Italy.
—
Dave Smith, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2025
Again, on the heels of September’s rate, short-term Treasury yields sank, but the 10-year yield soared back to its highest point in nearly a fortnight.
—Tiana Lowe Doescher, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2025
In the residential real estate business for nearly 20 years, the company operates from Seattle headquarters.
—John Navin, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Even more, each pair can be thoroughly customized allowing players to choose colors, materials, and patterns for nearly every part of the shoe.
—Riley Jones, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nearly
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Dave Smith, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2025
Again, on the heels of September’s rate, short-term Treasury yields sank, but the 10-year yield soared back to its highest point in nearly a fortnight.
—Tiana Lowe Doescher, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2025
In the residential real estate business for nearly 20 years, the company operates from Seattle headquarters.
—John Navin, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Even more, each pair can be thoroughly customized allowing players to choose colors, materials, and patterns for nearly every part of the shoe.
—Riley Jones, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nearly
Cite this Entry
“Nearly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nearly. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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