adj Uncommon

nearer

NEER-ruh

Nearer (adj) means Comparative of near: less distant; closer. Example: “Choose whichever hospital is nearer.”

adj

Comparative of near: less distant; closer.

"Choose whichever hospital is nearer."

"The finish line looked nearer than it actually was."

prep

Closer to a particular place, time, or state.

"We moved nearer the front of the queue."

How to use nearer

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe comparative form of "near" — more close than something else.

Common pairings

nearer to get nearer nearer the truth

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Can you complete this real example?

Choose whichever hospital is _____.

parer carer bearer wearer clearer

What does “nearer” mean?

The word “nearer” means comparative of near: less distant; closer. In plain terms, the comparative form of "near" — more close than something else.

How do you pronounce “nearer”?

“Nearer” is pronounced NEER-ruh (/ˈnɪɹɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “nearer” in a sentence?

Here is “nearer” used in a sentence: “Choose whichever hospital is nearer.”

What part of speech is “nearer”?

Depending on how it is used, “nearer” can be an adjective and a preposition.

Is “nearer” a common word?

“Nearer” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “nearer” have?

“Nearer” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: comparative of near: less distant; closer.

Vocabulary lists that include nearer: