Almost is an adverb meaning very nearly; not quite; very close to something without fully reaching it. It expresses that something is on the edge of being true, finished, or complete.
What Does Almost Mean?
Almost comes from Old English eallmaest, a compound of eall (all) and maest (most) — literally "for the most part" or "all but". The word has been in continuous use since before the Norman Conquest, making it one of the oldest and most stable adverbs in English. Its meaning has barely changed in over a thousand years.
In modern English, almost signals that something falls just short of a threshold. It can modify verbs (she almost fell), adjectives (it is almost impossible), other adverbs (almost always), and determiners or pronouns (almost everyone, almost all the students). This flexibility makes it one of the most frequently used adverbs in the language.
A key feature of almost — and one that sets it apart from its close synonym nearly — is its natural use with negative words: almost never, almost nobody, almost nothing. These combinations are idiomatic and very common in both British and American English.
Example Sentences
| Sentence | Level & Usage note |
|---|---|
| It is almost ten o'clock — we need to go. | A2 — almost + time expression |
| She has almost finished the advanced vocabulary workbook. | B1 — almost + perfect aspect verb |
| The two brothers look almost identical, so it is hard to tell them apart. | B1 — almost + adjective |
| The government's new policy has almost certainly contributed to the rise in housing costs. | B2 — almost certainly (collocation) in formal context |
| The phenomenon is so subtle that it is almost impossible to detect without specialist equipment. | C1 — almost impossible in academic/scientific register |
Collocations
| Collocation | Example |
|---|---|
| almost certainly | The flight is almost certainly going to be delayed. |
| almost always | She almost always arrives on time. |
| almost never | He almost never eats breakfast before work. |
| almost impossible | It is almost impossible to book a table at that restaurant. |
| almost immediately | The medicine took effect almost immediately. |
| almost entirely | The project was funded almost entirely by private donors. |
| almost ready | Dinner is almost ready — just five more minutes. |
| almost everyone | Almost everyone in the class passed the exam. |
| almost finished | The builders say the roof is almost finished. |
| almost every day | He walks to work almost every day, weather permitting. |
Usage Notes
How to Use Almost Correctly
- Position: Almost usually comes directly before the word or phrase it modifies: almost finished, almost impossible, almost everyone. Do not place it at the end of a clause.
- With negatives: Almost combines naturally with negative words — almost never, almost nobody, almost nothing. This is one of the key differences from nearly, which sounds less natural in these patterns.
- With numbers: Both almost and nearly work before numbers: almost 200 people, nearly 200 people. Either is acceptable.
- Register: Almost is neutral — equally appropriate in formal essays and informal conversation.
- Almost vs. nearly: In most cases the two words are interchangeable. Prefer almost before negatives (almost never) and before no + noun (almost no time).
Common Mistakes
Watch Out For
Most everyone came to the party. (non-standard; almost, not most)
Almost everyone came to the party.
I was nearly never late. (nearly + never sounds unnatural)
I was almost never late.
She finished almost the book. (incorrect word order)
She almost finished the book.
He is almost not ready. (use hardly or barely instead)
He is barely ready. / He is hardly ready.