əˈ baʊt ˈɔːl.məʊst ˈɔl.moʊst kləʊs kloʊs nɪə(ɹ) nɪɹ nɪə(ɹ) nɪɹ ˈnɪəli ˈnɪɹli naɪ naɪ (of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but the job is (just) about done the baby was almost asleep when the alarm sounded we're almost finished the car all but ran her down he nearly fainted talked for nigh onto 2 hours the recording is well-nigh perfect virtually all the parties signed the contract I was near exhausted by the run most everyone agrees near in time or place or relationship as the wedding day drew near stood near the door don't shoot until they come near getting near to the true explanation her mother is always near The end draws nigh the bullet didn't come close don't get too close to the fire not far distant in time or space or degree or circumstances near neighbors in the near future they are near equals his nearest approach to success a very near thing a near hit by the bomb she was near tears she was close to tears had a close call being on the left side the near or nigh horse is the one on the left the animal's left side is its near or nigh side