nearly
/ˈnɪɹli/adverb
nearly is spelled N-E-A-R-L-Y: 6 letters and 2 syllables. It appears 100 times per million words in written English, the 1,076th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adverb, nearly means “In close approximation; almost, virtually” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in nearly?
| Letters | 6: N-E-A-R-L-Y |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 100 times per million words; the 1,076th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Rhymes with |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is nearly?
Nearly appears 100 times per million words in written English, the 1,076th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce nearly?
- UK /ˈnɪəli/
- British /ˈnɪːlɪj/
- US /ˈnɪɹli/
Nearly has 2 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-us-nearly.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with nearly?
4 words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as nearly from its last stressed vowel (/ɪɹli/):
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of nearly
- nearlier comparative
- more nearly comparative
- nearliest superlative
- most nearly superlative
- nerely
- nerly
- neerely
- nearely
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does nearly mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adverb
- 1
In close approximation; almost, virtually.
He left a nearly full beer on the bar.
- 2
archaicWith great scrutiny; carefully.
- 3
With close relation; intimately.
- 4
Closely, in close proximity.
- 5
Stingily.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
How do you abbreviate nearly?
Wiktionary records one abbreviation of nearly: n'ly.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Nearly in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense almost, but not quite:
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does nearly come from?
From near + -ly. Cognate with Scots nerelie, neirlie (“nearly”). Compare also English nearling, nearlings.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).