nearly

• nerely, nerly, neerely, nearely (all obsolete)

From near +‎ -ly. Cognate with Scots nerelie, neirlie (“nearly”). Compare also English nearling, nearlings.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈnɪəlɪ/
• (Standard Southern British) IPA^(key): /ˈnɪːlɪj/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈnɪɹli/
• (Scotland, Canada) IPA^(key): /ˈniːɹli/, /ˈniːɹlɪ/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɪə(ɹ)li

nearly (comparative nearlier or more nearly, superlative nearliest or most nearly)

1. In close approximation; almost, virtually. [from 17th c.]

   Synonym: (obsolete) environ

   He left a nearly full beer on the bar.

   I nearly didn't go to work yesterday.

   He was (so/very) nearly over the worst part of his college degree.

   • 1921, Ben Travers, chapter 1, in A Cuckoo in the Nest, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 1925, →OCLC:

     She was like a Beardsley Salome, he had said. And indeed she had the narrow eyes and the high cheekbone of that creature, and as nearly the sinuosity as is compatible with human symmetry.

   • 1956 [1880], Johanna Spyri, Heidi, translation of original by Eileen Hall, page 97:

     'Since Heidi's been here, delightful things have happened nearly every day.'

   • 2013 May-June, Kevin Heng, “Why Does Nature Form Exoplanets Easily?”, in American Scientist‎^[1], volume 101, number 3, archived from the original on 9 May 2013, page 184:

     In the past two years, NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope has located nearly 3,000 exoplanet candidates ranging from sub-Earth-sized minions to gas giants that dwarf our own Jupiter.

   • 2022 May 8, Katie Lobosco, “Trump’s trade war looms over soybean farmers 4 years later”, in CNN‎^[2]:

     It’s been nearly four years since China put tariffs on American-grown soybeans during a tit-for-tat trade war with then-President Donald Trump – and they remain in place despite the change in administrations.

2. (now rare) With great scrutiny; carefully. [from 16th c.]
   • 1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 1, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book III, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:

     And whosoever hath traced mee and nearely [translating de pres] looked into my humours, Ile loose a good wager if hee confesse not that there is no rule in their schoole, could, a midde such crooked pathes and divers windings, square and report this naturall motion, and maintaine an apparance of liberty and licence so equall and inflexible […] .

3. With close relation; intimately. [from 16th c.]
   • a. 1705, John Locke, “Of the Conduct of the Understanding”, in Posthumous Works of Mr. John Locke: […], London: […] A[wnsham] and J[ohn] Churchill, […], published 1706, →OCLC:

     Let that which he learns next be nearly conjoined with what he knows already.

   • 1837, The Dublin University Magazine:

     She could have joined most comfortably in all their supposings, and suspicions, and doubts, and prognostications, but the honour of the family was too nearly concerned to allow free reins to her tongue.

   • 1847 March 30, Herman Melville, Omoo: A Narrative of Adventures in the South Seas; […], London: John Murray, […], →OCLC:

     [H]e was also accounted a man of wealth, and was nearly related to a high chief.

4. Closely, in close proximity. [from 16th c.]
   • c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii]:

     I doubt some danger do's approach you neerely.

5. Stingily.

• almost, nigh, well-nigh, near, close to, next to, practically, virtually

• “nearly”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.

• Nayler, Raelyn, Rylean, lanyer