nearly
[adverb]
Synonyms: almost, approximately, as good as, just about, practically, roughly, virtually, well-nigh

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Related Idioms: as near as never mind(s), in effect, in essence, in substance, in the main, nigh on (or onto or upon), to all (practical) intents and purposes
Related Words: virtually

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English Thesaurus: almost, nearly, not quite, practically/virtually, practically all/everything/everyone etc, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

near‧ly S1 W1 /ˈnɪəli $ ˈnɪrli/ adverb

1. especially British English almost, but not quite or not completely Synonym : almost:
It took nearly two hours to get here.
Michelle’s nearly twenty.
Is the job nearly finished?
Louise is nearly as tall as her mother.
I nearly always go home for lunch.
He very nearly died.

2. not nearly not at all:
He’s not nearly as good-looking as his brother.
We’ve saved some money, but it’s not nearly enough.


GRAMMAR
Do not use nearly before negative words like 'no', 'nothing' etc. Instead, use almost, or say hardly any, hardly anything etc:
I know almost nothing (NOT nearly nothing) about him.
There was hardly any traffic (NOT nearly no traffic).

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

nearly
adverb
BAD: In the countryside there is nearly no pollution.
GOOD: In the countryside there is hardly any pollution.

Usage Note:
Instead of saying nearly no/nobody/never etc, use hardly any/anybody/ever etc: 'Hardly any of my friends are married.' 'Hardly anybody objected to the idea.'

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲

almost not completely or not quite:
I’ve almost finished my essay.
It's almost lunchtime.
nearly almost. Nearly is more commonly used in British English than American English:
I’ve been a teacher for nearly 10 years now.
It’s very nearly time to go home.
not quite almost, but not yet:
‘Is he 60?’ ‘Not quite!’
It’s not quite time to go yet.
I’m not quite ready yet.
practically/virtually very nearly:
The room was practically empty.
⇒ practically all/everything/everyone etc:
The frost killed practically every plant in the garden.
Virtually everyone had gone home.
more or less/just about/pretty much especially spoken very nearly – use this when saying that the difference is not important:
All the rooms are more or less the same size.
His jacket was pretty much the same colour as his trousers.
The policy will benefit just about everyone.
getting on for British English informal, getting on toward especially American English informal almost a particular time, age, or period of time – used especially when you are not sure of the exact time, age etc:
It’s getting on for 10 years since we last saw each other.
‘How old’s Diane?’ ‘She must be getting on toward 50.’
close to almost a particular number, amount, or time – used especially when the number or amount is surprisingly large or the time is very late:
It was close to midnight by the time we arrived.
They’ve spent close to $1.3 billion on the project.
approaching/nearing almost – used when a number or amount is still increasing or a time is getting nearer:
The unemployment rate was nearing 20%.
be on the verge of (doing) something to be very close to doing something:
She was on the verge of tears (=almost crying).
I was on the verge of giving up.
They were on the verge of making a decision.
be on the brink of something to be very close to an extremely bad situation:
The two countries are on the brink of war.
The company was on the brink of bankruptcy.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲