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Universal Words adjective, adverb, noun adjective [onlybeforenoun] 1 (usually with the) coming straight after sb/sth in time, order or space: The next train to Baltimore is at ten. * The next six months will be the hardest. * the next chapter * Who's next? * the woman in the next room * I fainted and the next thing I knew I was in the hospital. * (informal) Round here, you leave school at sixteen and next thing you know, you're married with three kids. 2 (used without the) ~ Monday, week, summer, year, etc. the Monday, week, etc. immediately following: Next Thursday is 12 April. * Next time I'll bring a book. IDIOMS the next man the average person: I can enjoy a joke as well as the next man, but this is going too far. moreatDAY, LUCKn. adverb 1 after sth else; then; afterwards: What happened next? * Next, I heard the sound of voices. 2 ~ best, biggest, most important, etc....(after / to sb/sth) following in the order mentioned: Jo was the next oldest after Martin. * The next best thing to flying is gliding. 3 used in questions to express surprise or confusion: You're going bungee jumping? Whatever next? noun (usually the next) [sing.] a person or thing that is next: One moment he wasn't there, the next he was. * the week after next ______________________________ WHICHWORD? next / nearest (The) next means 'after this/that one' in time or in a series of events, places or people: When is your next appointment? * Turn left at the next traffic lights. * Who's next? (The) nearest means 'closest' in space: Where's the nearest supermarket? Notice the difference between the prepositions nearest to and next to: Janet's sitting nearest to the window (= of all the people in the room). Sarah's sitting next to the window (= right beside it). In informal BrE nearest can be used instead of nearest to: Who's sitting nearest the door? ______________________________