The difference between Almost and Near
When used as nouns, almost means something or someone that doesn't quite make it, whereas near means the left side of a horse or of a team of horses pulling a carriage etc.
When used as adverbs, almost means very close to, but not quite, whereas near means having a small intervening distance with regard to something.
Near is also preposition with the meaning: close to, in close proximity to.
Near is also verb with the meaning: to come closer to.
Near is also adjective with the meaning: physically close.
check bellow for the other definitions of Almost and Near
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Almost as an adverb:
Very close to, but not quite.
Examples:
"Almost all people went there.'' - Not all but very close to it."
"We almost missed the train.'' - Not missed but very close to it."
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Almost as a noun (informal):
Something or someone that doesn't quite make it.
Examples:
"In all the submissions, they found four papers that were clearly worth publishing and another dozen almosts."
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Near as an adjective:
Physically close.
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Near as an adjective:
Closely connected or related.
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Near as an adjective:
Close to one's interests, affection, etc.; intimate; dear.
Examples:
"a near friend"
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Near as an adjective:
Close to anything followed or imitated; not free, loose, or rambling.
Examples:
"a version near to the original"
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Near as an adjective:
So as barely to avoid or pass injury or loss; close; narrow.
Examples:
"a near escape"
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Near as an adjective (of an event):
Approaching.
Examples:
"The end is near."
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Near as an adjective:
Approximate, almost.
Examples:
"The two words are near synonyms."
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Near as an adjective (dated):
Next to the driver, when he is on foot; on the left of an animal or a team.
Examples:
"the near ox; the near leg"
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Near as an adjective (obsolete):
Immediate; direct; close; short.
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Near as an adjective (obsolete, slang):
Stingy; parsimonious.
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Near as an adverb:
Having a small intervening distance with regard to something.
Examples:
"I'm near-sighted."
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Near as an adverb (colloquial):
nearly
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Near as a preposition:
Close to, in close proximity to.
Examples:
"There are habitable planets orbiting many of the stars near our Sun."
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Near as a preposition:
Close to in time.
Examples:
"The voyage was near completion."
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Near as a verb (ambitransitive):
To come closer to; to approach.
Examples:
"The ship nears the land."
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Near as a noun:
The left side of a horse or of a team of horses pulling a carriage etc.