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Nearly for Dummies

adverb

pronunciation: 'nirli

What does Nearly really mean?

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Hey there!

I'm excited to help you understand the word "nearly"! It's a word that we use to talk about things that are very close to happening or very close to being true. Think of it like when you're running to catch the school bus, and you're just a few steps away from catching it. You're "nearly" there! So, "nearly" is all about being very, very close to something.

Now, let me break it down into a couple of different meanings for you:

1. Almost or very close

When we say "nearly," we often mean that something is almost or very close to happening or being true. It's like when you're playing a game of tag, and you're chasing your friend who is just a couple of steps ahead of you. You're nearly about to tag them! Or imagine you're solving a math problem, and you're close to finding the right answer. You're nearly there, just a little bit more to go!

2. Almost all, but not completely

Another way we use "nearly" is when we're talking about an amount or quantity of something that is almost all or almost complete, but not completely. For example, if you have a plate of cookies and there's only one cookie left, you can say that the plate is nearly empty. It's like when you have a glass of water and you drink almost all of it, but there's just a tiny bit left. The glass is nearly empty, but not completely!

3. Almost the same or similar

Sometimes, "nearly" is also used to describe something that is almost the same or almost similar to something else. You can think of it like when you and your best friend go shopping and you both pick out very similar outfits. Your outfits are nearly the same! Or when you're drawing a picture of a dinosaur, and it looks very much like a T-rex, but just a little bit different. It's nearly a T-rex!

So, "nearly" is all about being very close to something, whether it's about something happening, an amount or quantity, or even something being similar. It's a word that tells us that we're almost there, but not quite. And remember, everyone learns at their own pace, so take your time and ask as many questions as you need!

I hope this helps! If you have any more questions, feel free to ask.


Revised and Fact checked by Liam Lewis on 2023-10-29 11:13:19

Nearly In a sentece

Learn how to use Nearly inside a sentece

  • I nearly missed the bus this morning, but luckily I arrived just in time.
  • She nearly finished her puzzle, only one piece was missing.
  • I nearly forgot to bring my lunch to school, but I remembered just in time.
  • He nearly fell off his bike, but he managed to regain balance at the last moment.
  • We nearly won the game, but the other team scored a last-minute goal.

Nearly Synonyms

Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.