came close
- nearlyAlmost but incomplete
- almostShort of completely
- approachedMoved toward something
- vergedApproached a boundary
- brushedTouched in passing
grazed · narrowly · missed · touched · hovered · edged · skirted · bordered · approximated · neared · brink · whisker · hairbreadth · threshold · tantalizingly · so close · within reach · just shy
proximity to success/achievement
came closesucceeded
Achieved desired outcome
nailed it · nowhere near · made it · bombed · flopped
physical proximity
came closemoved away
Changed residence to elsewhere
retreated · withdrew · avoided · stayed back · backed off