What does nearly mean?

"Nearly" means almost, but not quite. It indicates that something is very close to happening, being true, or being achieved, but it doesn't quite reach that point.

Here are some synonyms for "nearly":

* Almost

* Practically

* Virtually

* About

* Close to

* On the verge of

* Within a hair's breadth of

Here are some examples of how "nearly" is used:

* "I nearly missed my flight." (I was very close to missing my flight, but I made it in the end)

* "The cake is nearly ready." (The cake is almost ready, but it needs a few more minutes)

* "She nearly won the race." (She was very close to winning the race, but someone else won instead)

"Nearly" can be used to express a range of degrees of closeness, from very close to somewhat close. It's a versatile word that can be used in many different contexts.