nearby
neer-BEYE
Nearby (adj) means Close by; not far away. Example: “We ate at a nearby restaurant.”
adj
1
Close by; not far away.
"We ate at a nearby restaurant."
"A nearby town was hit by the same storm."
"Is there a nearby pharmacy where I can buy some plasters?"
adv
1
In a location close by.
"Her office is nearby, just past the bank."
"Parking is easy because there are several car parks nearby."
"Children were playing nearby while their parents sat chatting on the bench."
How to use nearby
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishClose to where you are or where something is happening.
Common mistake
Written as one word ("nearby"), unlike the phrase "near by" in older texts.
Common pairings
nearby town
a nearby café
somewhere nearby
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Word forms
- Plural
- nearbys
- Comparative
- more nearby
- Superlative
- most nearby
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We ate at a _____ restaurant.
Etymology
From Middle English ner-bi, formed from near + by.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for nearby
See all rhymes for nearby →Frequently asked questions
What does “nearby” mean?
The word “nearby” means close by; not far away. In plain terms, close to where you are or where something is happening.
How do you pronounce “nearby”?
“Nearby” is pronounced neer-BEYE (/ˌnɪə(ɹ)ˈbaɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “nearby” in a sentence?
Here is “nearby” used in a sentence: “We ate at a nearby restaurant.”
What part of speech is “nearby”?
Depending on how it is used, “nearby” can be an adjective and an adverb.
Where does the word “nearby” come from?
The word “nearby” comes from Middle English. From Middle English ner-bi, formed from near + by.
Is “nearby” a common word?
“Nearby” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “nearby” have?
“Nearby” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: close by; not far away.
What is the opposite of nearby?
The opposite of nearby is distant or far away. Words like remote, faraway, and far-off also work, describing something a long way off rather than close at hand. Where nearby means only a short distance away, its opposites stress the gap in distance between one place and another.
Is nearby an adjective or an adverb?
It can be both. As an adjective it describes something close, as in 'a nearby shop.' As an adverb it tells you where something is, as in 'they live nearby.' The meaning stays the same, close by and not far away, but its role in the sentence changes.
What is an example of nearby?
You might say 'we stopped at a nearby cafe' or 'is there a station nearby?' In both, nearby points to something within easy reach. It often describes shops, streets, towns, or people close to where you are, suggesting you could get there quickly and without travelling far.
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