almost
16 synonyms and 4 antonyms for almost, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adv — Very close to a state or amount, but not quite reaching it.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use almost
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English eallmæst, built from all + most.
Full origin of almost →Frequently asked questions
What does “almost” mean?
The word “almost” means very close to a state or amount, but not quite reaching it. In plain terms, nearly, but not fully there yet.
How do you pronounce “almost”?
“Almost” is pronounced AWL-mohst (/ˈɔl.moʊst/ in IPA).
How do you use “almost” in a sentence?
Here is “almost” used in a sentence: “She almost missed the train.”
What is another word for “almost”?
Words with a similar meaning to “almost” include all but, as good as, as near as makes no difference, fornigh, just about and more or less.
What is the opposite of “almost”?
The opposite of “almost” — its antonyms — are mostly, somewhat, slightly and very.
What part of speech is “almost”?
“Almost” is an adverb.
Where does the word “almost” come from?
The word “almost” comes from Old English. From Old English eallmæst, built from all + most.
Is “almost” a common word?
“Almost” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between almost and nearly?
They are close synonyms and usually interchangeable — both mean not quite reaching something. "Almost" can feel slightly closer to completion and is a little more common in speech. "Nearly" is marginally more formal. In most sentences you can swap one for the other without changing the meaning at all.
What is the difference between almost and about?
"Almost" means just short of a point — almost full means not yet full. "About" means approximately, and can fall a little over or under — about a litre could be slightly more or less. So "almost" always falls short of the mark, while "about" hovers on either side of it.
Does 'almost' mean the same as 'most'?
No, though they look similar. "Most" means the majority or greatest part, as in "most people agree." "Almost" means very nearly, as in "almost everyone agrees." "Almost all" is close to every single one, whereas "most" is simply more than half. Confusing them changes how complete you mean something to be.
Can you use 'almost' with 'never' and 'always'?
Yes. "Almost never" means very rarely but not quite never, and "almost always" means nearly every time but with occasional exceptions. "Almost" narrows these absolutes, showing you fall just short of a total. It works the same way with "everyone," "nothing," and similar all-or-nothing words.