Preposition / Adjective / Adverb A2 — Elementary /nɪər/

Near — Definition, Examples & Usage

At a short distance in space or time — one of the most useful words in everyday English.

Quick Definition

Near means at a short distance from something or someone in space or time. It can function as a preposition (near the station), an adjective (the near future), or an adverb (come near).

What Does Near Mean?

Near is one of the oldest and most common words in English, descending from Old English nēar, which was itself the comparative of nēah meaning "nigh" or "close". This origin means that near historically already carried the sense of "closer", making it a comparative that eventually became the base form we use today.

In modern English, near expresses proximity — physical closeness in space (the park is near the school), closeness in time (the deadline is near), or figurative closeness to a state or condition (near perfect, near exhaustion). Its flexibility across three grammatical roles — preposition, adjective, and adverb — makes it an essential word for learners at every level.

Note that near overlaps significantly with close, nearby, and next to, but each has distinct grammatical patterns. Understanding these differences will sharpen both your writing and your understanding of authentic English texts.

Etymology

From Old English nēar (comparative of nēah, "nigh, close"), related to Old Norse nær and German nahe. Attested continuously in English since before the 12th century. The modern form has been used as a non-comparative base word since the Middle English period.

Example Sentences (A2–C1)

SentenceLevel & note
The hotel is near the city centre. A2 — preposition of place, core use
Christmas is near, so the shops are very busy. A2/B1 — near as predicate adjective, temporal sense
We hope to finish the project in the near future. B1 — fixed phrase, near as attributive adjective
The pilot reported a near miss with another aircraft over the channel. B2 — idiomatic compound noun
The negotiations came nowhere near resolving the underlying dispute. C1 — "nowhere near" as intensifying adverb phrase

Common Collocations

CollocationExample
near the centre / top / endThe café is near the top of the high street.
in the near futureWe plan to open a second branch in the near future.
near missIt was a near miss — the lorry missed us by centimetres.
draw near / come nearAs the deadline drew near, the team worked longer hours.
nowhere nearThe final score was nowhere near what we had hoped for.
near enoughThat is near enough — we do not need to be exact.
near-death experienceThe survivor described a vivid near-death experience.
nearer (to)Could you move your chair a little nearer?

Usage Notes

Near vs. Close vs. Nearby

Use near as a preposition directly before a noun: near the station, near the end.

Use close to (with to) when the next word is a noun: close to the station. The to is required.

Use nearby as a standalone adjective or adverb when you do not state what something is near: Is there a pharmacy nearby?

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The school is near to the park. (informal at best; avoid in writing)

The school is near the park. (standard British English)

There is a supermarket near. (near without a following noun sounds incomplete)

There is a supermarket nearby. (use nearby as a standalone adverb)

Related Words

nearer nearest nearly nearness nearby near-death near miss

Synonyms

close adjacent neighbouring proximate next to alongside

Antonyms

far distant remote far-off

Practise This Word

Flash Cards Complete the Sentence Vocabulary Quiz Hangman

Frequently Asked Questions about “near”

What does near mean in English?
Near means at a short distance from something or someone in space or time. It is one of the most versatile words in English because it works as a preposition ('near the park'), an adjective ('in the near future'), and an adverb ('she stood near'). The core idea is closeness — either physical or temporal.
What is the difference between near and close?
Near and close both describe proximity, but they behave differently grammatically. Near is typically followed directly by a noun without a preposition: 'near the school'. Close must be followed by 'to': 'close to the school'. As adjectives, 'near' tends to refer to time or physical distance in fixed phrases ('the near future'), while 'close' more often describes emotional or relational proximity ('a close friend').
Can near be used as an adjective?
Yes. As an adjective, near usually appears before a noun in fixed phrases such as 'the near future', 'a near miss', and 'the near side'. It is less common as a predicative adjective (after a verb), where 'close' or 'nearby' is usually preferred: 'The station is close' is more natural than 'The station is near' in formal writing, though both are grammatically correct.
What is the difference between near and nearby?
Nearby is an adjective or adverb that means 'not far away' and stands alone without a following noun: 'There is a pharmacy nearby.' Near, as a preposition, must be followed by a noun: 'There is a pharmacy near the hotel.' You cannot say 'a pharmacy near' without saying near what. Use nearby when you want to say something is close without specifying what it is close to.
What are common collocations with near?
Common collocations with near include: near the centre, near the top/bottom, near the end, in the near future, near miss, near enough, draw near, come near, nowhere near, near certainty, near perfect, and near-death experience. These phrases appear frequently in both spoken and written English.
How do you use near in a sentence?
As a preposition: 'The café is near the museum.' As an adjective: 'We hope to launch in the near future.' As an adverb: 'Don't come too near.' Note that when near is used as a preposition it does not need 'to': say 'near the station', not 'near to the station' (though 'near to' is sometimes heard in informal British English and is not wrong).
What is a near miss?
A near miss is a situation in which an accident or disaster was only just avoided. Examples include two aircraft coming dangerously close without colliding, or a ball that almost hits the goal but misses. The phrase is common in aviation, sport, and safety reporting. Note that some purists argue 'near hit' would be more logical, but 'near miss' is the established and universally understood term.
What is the comparative and superlative of near?
The comparative form is nearer and the superlative is nearest. Examples: 'Which hospital is nearest to our hotel?' 'Move a little nearer so I can hear you.' These forms are used both as adjectives and as adverbs. 'Nearest' also appears in the fixed phrase 'your nearest and dearest', meaning your closest family members.
What is the origin of the word near?
Near comes from Old English 'nēar', which was the comparative form of 'nēah' (meaning 'nigh' or 'close'). This means that historically near already meant 'closer', making it a double comparative. The Old English root is related to Old Norse 'nær' and German 'nahe'. The word has been in continuous use in English since before the 12th century.
How can I practise using near in English?
Try LexFizz's Complete the Sentence exercise to practise near and similar prepositions of place in context. The Flash Cards tool helps you learn near alongside related words such as close, nearby, next to, and beside. You can also use the Vocabulary Quiz to test your understanding of prepositions at A2–B2 level.