near / ni(ə)r/ • adv. 1. at or to a short distance away; nearby: a bomb exploding somewhere near | [comparative] she took a step nearer. 2. a short time away in the future: the time for his retirement was drawing near.3. almost: a near perfect fit.4. archaic or dial. almost: I near fell out of the chair.• prep. (also near to) 1. at or to a short distance away from (a place): the parking lot near the sawmill | do you live near here? | [superlative] the table nearest the door. 2. a short period of time from: near the end of the war | [comparative] details will be given nearer the date. 3. close to (a state); verging on: she gave a tiny smile, brave but near tears | she was near death. ∎  (used before an amount) a small amount below (something); approaching: temperatures near 2 million degrees K.4. similar to: a shape near to the original.• adj. 1. located a short distance away: a big house in the near distance | [superlative] I was fifteen miles from the nearest town. 2. only a short time ahead: the conflict is unlikely to be resolved in the near future.3. similar: [superlative] walking in these shoes is the nearest thing to floating on air. ∎  close to being (the thing mentioned): his state of near despair | a near disaster. ∎  having a close family connection: the loss of a child or other near relative.4. located on the side of a vehicle that is normally closest to the curb: the near right-hand end window of the trailer. Compare with off (sense 3).5. archaic (of a person) stingy; miserly.• v. [tr.] come near to (someone or something); approach: soon the cab would be nearing State Street | [intr.] lunchtime neared. PHRASES: near at hand within easy reach. ∎  about to happen or come about: an all-electric future was near at hand.near enough sufficiently close to being the case for all practical purposes: this price was near enough the going rate for rent.one's nearest and dearest one's close friends and relatives.so near and yet so far a rueful comment on someone's narrow failure to achieve an aim.DERIVATIVES: near·ish adj.near·ness n.ORIGIN: Middle English: from Old Norse nær ‘nearer,’ comparative of ná, corresponding to Old English nēah ‘nigh.’