near at hand Definition

near
prep nearer, nearest

1. At a short distance from something.

Example: lives near the town centre
Thesaurus: beside, alongside, next to, close to, a stone's throwaway from, by, toward.
2. Close to something (in amount, etc).

Example: nearer 600 than 500
Example: near tears

adverb nearer, nearest

1. Close.

Example: came near to hitting her
Form: near to (also)
2. old use or colloq
Almost; nearly.
Example: She damn near died

adj nearer, nearest

1. Being a short distance away; close.

Thesaurus: adjacent, nigh, adjoining, attached, contiguous, proximal, neighbouring, proximate, bordering, at close quarters, nearby; approaching, at hand, imminent, expected, coming, forthcoming, near-at-hand, close, looming, impending, in the offing; Antonym: remote, distant, far.
2. Closer of two.

Example: the near bank of the river
3. Similar; comparable.

Example: that knife is the nearest thing I've got to a screwdriver
4. Closely related to one.

Example: a near relative
Thesaurus: akin, dear, familiar, intimate, related.
5. Almost amounting to, or almost turning into the specified thing.

Example: a near tragedy
Example: near-disastrous results
6. old use
Mean; miserly.

verb

tr & intr
neared, nearing
1. To approach.

Derivative: nearly

See separate entry.

Derivative: nearness
noun

The fact or state of being near
Thesaurus: contiguity, closeness, proximity, adjacency, vicinity, propinquity, availability, immediacy, imminence, juxtaposition, handiness, close quarters, vicinage, approximation; Antonym: distance, remoteness, difference.

Idiom: near as dammit (as near as damn it)

colloq
Very nearly.

Idiom: near at hand

Conveniently close.

Idiom: not to go near someone or something

To avoid them.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon, from neah nigh, and from (adverb) Norse nær nigher, from na nigh.