Standard Lemma guide

nearer

adj · prep · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈnɪəɹə/
  • General-American: /ˈnɪɹɚ/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • US: /ˈnɪəɹə(ɹ)/ without the mirror–nearer merger
  • US: /ˈniɹə(ɹ)/ without the mirror–nearer merger
  • New-Zealand: /ˈniəɹə/
  • Scotland: /ˈniɹəɹ/
  • /ˈnɛːɹə/ East Anglia, cheer–chair merger
  • rhymes with -ɪəɹə(ɹ)
  • CMU ARPABET: N IH1 R ER0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Less distant; comparative form of near: more near.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • There are two pubs in the town; the nearer one is about a five-minute walk away.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

prep

Meaning 2

Closer to.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • I'd like to live nearer the office.
  • I’ll tell you nearer the time what to do.
  • I still seem to be no nearer a solution.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adverb

Meaning 3

(comparative of `near' or `close') within a shorter distance

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • come closer, my dear!
  • they drew nearer
  • getting nearer to the true explanation

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: nigher, closer

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Real reading context

nearer in complete knowledge articles

Propataireachd Everyday life · Accessible · 4 uses