nearly

Universal Words adverb almost; not quite; not completely: The bottle's nearly empty. * I've worked here for nearly two years. * It's nearly time to leave. * The audience was nearly all men. * He's nearly as tall as you are. * They're nearly always late. * She very nearly died. -< ALMOST IDIOMS not nearly much less than; not at all: It's not nearly as hot as last year. * There isn't nearly enough time to get there now. moreatPRETTYadv.