Word
almost
Phoneticsal·most, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɔɫˌmoʊst/
UK/ˈɔːlməʊst/
Adverb of degree
Definitions
01nearly
A2 · Elementary
adv. very close to a certain amount, time, or state, but not quite there.
adv. nearly or all but; indicates a state that falls just short of completion or absolute truth.
“It was almost midnight by the time we finally got home.”
“The project was almost complete when the sudden withdrawal of funding forced the team to halt all operations indefinitely.”
Usage
Usually placed before the word it modifies, such as a verb, adjective, or number.
Pitfall
I almost have finished my homework.
I have almost finished my homework.
Place 'almost' before the main verb or the adjective it describes, usually after the first auxiliary verb.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02mathematical approximation
C1 · Advanced Mathematics Technical
adv. used in math to say something is true for nearly every part of a group.
adv. describes a property that holds for all elements of a set except for a subset of measure zero.
“The two functions are almost equal across the entire range.”
“In measure theory, we say a property holds almost everywhere if the set of points where it fails has a measure of zero.”
Usage
Often appears in the phrase 'almost everywhere' or 'almost surely'.
Synonyms
03a near success
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Informal
n. something that nearly succeeded but failed at the last moment.
n. an instance or entity that falls just short of a goal or a specific classification.
“The movie was an almost—it had great acting but a weak ending.”
“His career was a series of almosts, characterized by brilliant starts that never quite culminated in a major championship title.”
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “almost” in context.
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-der.? Proto-Indo-European *h₂elnós Proto-Germanic *allaz Proto-Germanic *ala- Proto-West Germanic *ala- Old English æl- Proto-Indo-European *meh₂-der. Proto-Germanic *maiz Proto-Germanic *maistaz Proto-Germanic *maist Proto-West Germanic *maist Old English mǣst Old English eallmǣst Middle English almost English almost From Middle English almost, from Old English eallmǣst (“nearly all, almost, for the most part”), equivalent to al- (“all”) + most.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A2 · ElementaryOxford
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/almost