nigh

CEFRB2

/naɪ/

adverb · adjective

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    adverb

    Nearly or almost.

  2. 02

    adverb

    Extra detail

    Not remote in degree, kindred, circumstances, etc.; closely allied; intimate.

Examples

  • The loathsome Gadgols no longer dared come nigh.

  • The zombie apocalypse is nigh!

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
5
Synonyms
2

Deep Dive

adverb

Extra meanings

  1. to draw nigh (to); to approach; to come near

  2. Almost, nearly.

adjective

Extra meaning

  1. Near, close by.

More examples

In context

  • The end is nigh.

  • a. 1831, Ludovico Ariosto, William Stewart Rose (translator), Orlando Furioso, 2006, Echo Library, page 185, He at his head took aim who stood most nigh;

  • Daybreak is drawing nigh.

Synonyms

Quick test

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Nearby

Origin

adverb

Old English nēah Middle English neygh English nigh Inherited from Middle English neygh, from Old English nēah, from Proto-West Germanic *nāhw, from Proto-Germanic *nēhw, from *nēhwaz, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂neḱ- (“to reach”).