near
- 01 A1 Beginner
prep.close to a person, place, or thing.
prep.indicating spatial proximity to a reference point.
Simple“We live in a small house near the park.”
In context“The archaeological site is located near the confluence of two major rivers, suggesting it was once a hub for regional trade.”
PitfallThe hotel is near to the station. The hotel is near the station.While 'close to' is correct, 'near' is usually used as a preposition on its own without 'to'.
- 02 A2 Elementary
prep.close to a particular time or event.
prep.indicating temporal proximity to a specific moment or event.
Simple“It was getting near lunchtime, so we stopped working.”
In context“As we drew near the end of the fiscal year, the accounting department worked late every night to reconcile the books.”
Synonymsclose totowards - 03 A1 Beginner
- 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.having a close family relationship.
adj.denoting a close degree of kinship or relationship.
Simple“Only near relatives were invited to the small wedding ceremony.”
In context“The estate was divided among his near relations, as he had died without leaving a formal will or naming a direct heir.”
- 05 B1 Intermediate
adv.at or to a short distance away.
adv.at, within, or to a short distance or interval.
Simple“The exams are drawing near, so I need to start studying.”
In context“The deadline for the project is drawing near, yet several key components of the software remain in the testing phase.”
- 06 B2 Upper Intermediate
adv.almost or nearly.
adv.used to indicate that something is almost the case.
Simple“The work is near finished, so we can go home soon.”
In context“After three years of research, the team is near certain that they have identified the cause of the structural failure.”
Synonyms - 07 B1 Intermediate
v.to get closer to something in distance or time.
v.to approach or move closer to a physical or temporal point.
Simple“As the plane neared the airport, we could see the city lights.”
In context“As the ship neared the rocky coastline, the captain ordered the crew to reduce speed and monitor the sonar readings closely.”
near vs nearly — Near describes physical or temporal proximity, while nearly indicates that something is almost but not quite the case.