next
nehkst
Next (adj) means coming immediately after the current one, in place, time, or order. Example: “Turn left at the next intersection.”
adj
1
Coming immediately after the current one, in place, time, or order.
"Turn left at the next intersection."
"See you next week."
"The next train to the city leaves from platform four in ten minutes."
det
1
The one immediately following the present or most recent one.
"The next train to the city leaves from platform four in ten minutes."
"Please read the next chapter before our lesson on Thursday."
"Take the next available seat."
adv
1
Immediately afterward, in sequence.
"First we'll eat, and next we'll head to the cinema."
"Mix the flour and eggs, then next add a little milk."
"What happened next was a complete surprise to all of us."
prep
1
Nearest to or adjacent to.
"She sat next to her best friend."
"The bakery is next to the post office on the corner."
"I left my umbrella next to the front door."
How to use next
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWhatever comes immediately after the current one, whether in time, order, or position.
Common pairings
next time
next to
the next day
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Etymology
From Old English nīehsta, the superlative of nēah ("nigh, near") — so "next" originally meant literally "nearest."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for next
See all rhymes for next →Frequently asked questions
What does “next” mean?
The word “next” means coming immediately after the current one, in place, time, or order. In plain terms, whatever comes immediately after the current one, whether in time, order, or position.
How do you pronounce “next”?
“Next” is pronounced nehkst (/nɛkst/ in IPA).
How do you use “next” in a sentence?
Here is “next” used in a sentence: “Turn left at the next intersection.”
What is another word for “next”?
Words with a similar meaning to “next” include subsequent.
What is the opposite of “next”?
The opposite of “next” — its antonyms — are previous and previously.
What part of speech is “next”?
Depending on how it is used, “next” can be an adjective, a det, an adverb and a preposition.
Where does the word “next” come from?
The word “next” comes from Old English. From Old English nīehsta, the superlative of nēah ("nigh, near") — so "next" originally meant literally "nearest.".
Is “next” a common word?
“Next” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
Does 'next Friday' mean this week or the following week?
This is genuinely ambiguous and a common source of confusion. Some people use "next Friday" for the very next one coming up; others mean the Friday of the following week, saving "this Friday" for the nearer one. Because usage varies, it is safest to confirm with a date to avoid mix-ups.
What is the opposite of 'next'?
The opposite depends on direction. In time or sequence, the opposite of "next" is "previous," "last," or "preceding," the one that came before rather than after. When "next" means nearest in position, its opposite is "farthest" or "most distant." Most often, though, people contrast "next" with "previous."
What is the difference between 'next' and 'following'?
"Next" points to the one immediately after now; next week is the week just ahead. "Following" points to the one after a reference date you have already mentioned, so "the following week" means the week after that earlier date, not after today. "Following" needs a previous point to count from.
Example sentences
Real-world examples showing next in context, drawn from published sources. Any opinions expressed are those of the original source and do not reflect the views of FreeDict.com.
The how varies a bit team to team, but the overall theme is they get back to work and pivot to look at the next guys on their list.
From
Yahoo Sports · Jul 25, 2026
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