nearly
|near-ly|
B1
🇺🇸
/ˈnɪrli/
🇬🇧
/ˈnɪəli/
(near)
almost
Etymology
Etymology Information
'nearly' originates from Middle English, specifically the word 'neerliche,' where 'neer' meant 'near' and '-liche' was a suffix forming adverbs.
Historical Evolution
'neerliche' transformed into the modern English word 'nearly' through gradual phonetic changes.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'in a near manner,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'almost.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adverb 1
almost, but not quite; very close to.
She nearly missed the train.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:35