Nearly means almost, but not quite. When you've nearly finished your homework, you're close to being done but still have a bit left. If a basketball shot nearly goes in, it comes very close to the basket but misses at the last second.

The word captures that narrow gap between “not yet” and “completely.” A runner who nearly wins a race might finish just one step behind the winner. A glass that nearly falls off the table teeters on the edge but doesn't crash to the floor.

Nearly often appears with numbers to show approximations: “The library has nearly a thousand books” means it has something like 950 or 980 books, close to but not quite reaching 1,000. You might say “It's nearly midnight” when it's 11:50 PM, or “I'm nearly ten years old” when your birthday is next month.

The word helps us talk about things that are close to complete or close to happening. When your mom says “Dinner is nearly ready,” she means it'll be on the table in just a few minutes. Understanding nearly helps you communicate more precisely about timing, completion, and distance.