“Almost” vs. “Not Nearly”: What’s the Difference?
Jun 8, 2023
Engram
The difference between “almost” and “not nearly”
- Almost connotes a sense of having progressed significantly towards a goal, whereas not nearly suggests a significant lack of progress.
- Almost is often used in a positive context, while not nearly has a mostly negative connotation.
- Almost implies a sense of hopefulness, while not nearly suggests little to no hope for achieving the desired outcome.
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What is the definition of “almost” and “not nearly”?
Almost
- Almost means very close to happening or being finished.
- It suggests that something is in the later stages of development or progress.
- Almost can also indicate something is virtually, but not quite, complete.
Not nearly
- Not nearly means far from or distant from achieving something.
- It conveys the idea of falling very short of the expected or desired outcome.
- Not nearly emphasizes the failure or lack of progress towards a goal.
Which is the more popular variant on the Internet?
“Almost” is the more popular variant on the web.
More popular
Almost
4,110,000,000 results on the web
Examples
- I almost missed my flight this morning.
- The cake is almost finished, just needs one more piece taken off.
- The concert tickets were almost sold out, luckily I was still able to purchase one.
Not nearly
25,700,000 results on the web
Examples
- That essay is not nearly long enough, you should add more details.
- She's not nearly as tall as I thought she would be.
- The food was not nearly as spicy as we anticipated.
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