What does "almost" mean?

1. (nearly) very close to a certain amount, time, or state, but not quite there. 2. (mathematical approximation) used in math to say something is true for nearly every part of a group. 3. (a near success) something that nearly succeeded but failed at the last moment.

How do you use "almost"?

Usually placed before the word it modifies, such as a verb, adjective, or number. Often appears in the phrase 'almost everywhere' or 'almost surely'.

Is it correct to say "I almost have finished my homework."?

No — say "I have almost finished my homework.". Place 'almost' before the main verb or the adjective it describes, usually after the first auxiliary verb.

almost

adv. · n.

US //ˈɔɫˌmoʊst// UK //ˈɔːlməʊst// al·most

1 nearly (adv.)
A2 Elementary

very close to a certain amount, time, or state, but not quite there.

nearly or all but; indicates a state that falls just short of completion or absolute truth.

Example

It was almost midnight by the time we finally got home.

Example

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.
- exactly
- completely
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.
2 mathematical approximation (adv.)
C1 Advanced Technical Math

used in math to say something is true for nearly every part of a group.

describes a property that holds for all elements of a set except for a subset of measure zero.

Example

The two functions are almost equal across the entire range.

Example

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'.
- essentially

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3 a near success (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

something that nearly succeeded but failed at the last moment.

an instance or entity that falls just short of a goal or a specific classification.

Example

The movie was an almost—it had great acting but a weak ending.

Example

His career was a series of almosts, characterized by brilliant starts that never quite culminated in a major championship title.
- near miss
- success
- hit

Origin

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.