If something is near a place, thing, or person, it is a short distance from them.

If someone or something is near to a particular state, they have almost reached it.

If something is similar to something else, you can say that it is near to it.

You describe the thing most similar to something as the nearest thing to it when there is no example of the thing itself.

If a time or event draws near, it will happen soon.

If something happens near a particular time, it happens just before or just after that time.

You use near to say that something is a little more or less than an amount or number stated.

You can say that someone will not go near a person or thing when you are emphasizing that they refuse to see them or go there.

The near one of two things is the one that is closer.

You use near to indicate that something is almost the thing mentioned.

In a contest, your nearest rival or challenger is the person or team that is most likely to defeat you.

When you near a place, you get quite near to it.

When someone or something nears a particular stage or point, they will soon reach that stage or point.

You say that an important time or event nears when it is going to occur quite soon.

People sometimes refer to their close relatives and friends as their nearest and dearest .

You use near and far to indicate that you are referring to a very large area or distance.

If you say that something will happen in the near future, you mean that it will happen quite soon.

You use nowhere near and not anywhere near to emphasize that something is not the case.

If you want to indicate that something is almost true, you can use the expressions near enough and damned near. In British English, you can also say as near as dammit.

If you want to indicate that something almost happened, you can use the expression damned near. In British English, you can also say as near as dammit .