nearly
All but done
Nearly means almost but not quite—close to but falling short of some standard or completion.
We're nearly there.
She nearly fell.
It took nearly an hour.
The word implies proximity without achievement: He nearly won means he lost, while nearly everyone excludes a few.
Nearly often softens statements: nearly impossible acknowledges slim possibility.
Short of completely
- virtuallyNearly but not quite
- practicallyAlmost but not quite
- essentiallyAt its core nature
- aboutConcerning or approximately
roughly · approximately · all but · just about · close to · not quite · nigh · well-nigh
Coming toward something
- impendingSoon to occur
- loomingAppearing threateningly close
- forthcomingSoon to appear
- imminentAbout to occur
oncoming · verge · brink · cusp · threshold · on the point of · about to · close at hand
Disaster narrowly averted
- narrow escapeBarely avoiding disaster
- close shaveNarrow escape from harm
- hairsbreadthExtremely small distance
- whiskerStiff facial bristle
brush · scrape · by a hair · squeaker · photo finish · touch and go · skin of teeth · narrow squeak
Only just, almost not
somewhat · marginally · fractionally · partially · incompletely · partly · halfway · imperfectly
almost
Short of completely
- virtuallyNearly but not quite
- practicallyAlmost but not quite
- essentiallyAt its core nature
about · roughly · approximately · all but · just about · close to · not quite · nigh · well-nigh · as good as
approaching
Coming toward something
- impendingSoon to occur
- loomingAppearing threateningly close
- forthcomingSoon to appear
imminent · oncoming · verge · brink · cusp · threshold · on the point of · about to · close at hand · around the corner
close call
Disaster narrowly averted
- narrow escapeBarely avoiding disaster
- close shaveNarrow escape from harm
- hairsbreadthExtremely small distance
whisker · brush · scrape · by a hair · squeaker · photo finish · touch and go · skin of teeth · narrow squeak · cliff-hanger
barely
Only just, almost not
slightly · somewhat · marginally · fractionally · partially · incompletely · partly · halfway · imperfectly · not entirely
- -LY wordssoftly, loudly, quickly, slowly, happily
- intensifiersvery, really, extremely, absolutely, incredibly
- almost therealmost, close, imminent, impending, approaching
- approximationsabout, approximately, around, roughly, almost
- almost wordsalmost, barely, close, just about, practically
- hedginghedging, hedge, hedges, hedge bet, qualifier
nearlycompletely
To the fullest extent
fully · totally · entirely · wholly · absolutely
nearlyfar from
At great distance from
nowhere near · not even close · remotely · distantly · far
- nowhere nearAt great distance from
- near missesNarrowly avoided incidents
- near missNarrowly averted incident
- nearly allMost but not quite
- near deathClose to dying
- nearly thereClose to reaching goal