almost
(Informal)
[adverb]
Synonyms: nearly, about, approximately, close to, just about, not quite, on the brink of, practically, virtually

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Related Idioms: for all practical purposes, in effect, just about, to all intents and purposes

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

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

al‧most S1 W1 /ˈɔːlməʊst $ ˈɒːlmoʊst, ɒːlˈmoʊst/ adverb
[Language: Old English; Origin: ealmæst, from eall 'all' + mæst 'mostly']
nearly, but not completely or not quite:
Have you almost finished?
Supper’s almost ready.
It was almost midnight.
Almost nothing was done to improve the situation.
The story is almost certainly true.
He’s almost as old as I am.
almost all/every/everything
Marsha visits her son almost every day.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

almost
adverb
1.
BAD: I almost have forgotten what she looks like.
GOOD: I have almost forgotten what she looks like.
BAD: The suitcase almost was too heavy to lift.
GOOD: The suitcase was almost too heavy to lift.

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2.
BAD: My job takes me almost to every part of the world.
GOOD: My job takes me to almost every part of the world.

Usage Note:
Almost comes immediately before the word it modifies: 'He was working in Hungary for almost ten years.'

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3.
DUBIOUS: Outside Japan, almost nobody speaks Japanese.
GOOD: Outside Japan, hardly anybody speaks Japanese.

Usage Note:
Instead of saying almost no/nobody/never etc , it is more usual to say hardly any/anybody/ever etc: 'It was so early that there was hardly any traffic.' 'I hardly ever go to the cinema nowadays.'

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4.
BAD: She almost couldn't breathe.
GOOD: She could hardly breathe.

Usage Note:
Almost is used with a negative verb when something does actually happen although, at the time, there is a strong possibility that it will not happen: 'I was feeling so tired that I almost didn't come.' 'The traffic was so heavy that she almost didn't get here in time.'
When you mean 'only a little' or 'only with great difficulty', use hardly : 'We hardly know each other.' 'She was so tired that she could hardly keep her eyes open.' 'I can hardly hear myself think.'

[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 ▲