nearby

adverb or adjective

near·​by nir-ˈbī How to pronounce nearby (audio)
ˈnir-ˌbī
Synonyms of nearbynext
: close at hand

Synonyms of nearby

Relevance
See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of nearby in a Sentence

grabbed the nearby quilt and gently laid it over the sleeping child I'll be nearby if you need anything
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Some pear varieties need a compatible second variety nearby for pollination, says Spoonemore, so always check the pollination requirements before buying one. — Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 1 Sep. 2026 There are also less busy sites nearby including Hannya-ji Temple, a serene haven known for its sea of cosmos flowers and Japan’s tallest stone pagoda. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Sep. 2026 The attackers later died by suicide in a vehicle nearby, police said. — Sophia Compton, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026 Bikes are not allowed to on freeways or expressways, and cyclists cannot pass through tolls unless the signs nearby dictate otherwise. — Sacbee.com, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for nearby

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nearby was in the 15th century

Rhymes for nearby

See All Rhymes for nearby

Browse Nearby Words

near beer
nearby
near completion
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nearby.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nearby. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

nearby

adverb or adjective
near·​by ni(ə)r-ˈbī How to pronounce nearby (audio)
ˈni(ə)r-ˌbī
: close at hand
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of apiary

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All