nearest
nearest — adjective
1. describes the place or thing of its kind that is the shortest distance from wher
describes the place or thing of its kind that is the shortest distance from where you are or from a stated point
Asher asked the waiter where the nearest bus stop was.
the nearest + place noun
Our nearest neighbour lives about twenty minutes away by car.
nearest + relational noun (neighbour)
Mayumi ran into the nearest shop to buy a bottle of water.
Christopher asked the staff member where the nearest toilet was inside the museum.
The nearest hospital to our village is over fifty kilometres away.
文法句型
the nearest + noun
the nearest + noun + to + place
用法筆記
Almost always preceded by 'the' and followed by a noun. Distinguish from sense 3 (upcoming in time) by the type of noun that follows: a place or object noun signals this sense.
常見錯誤
2. describes the family members who are most closely linked to you by blood, such a
describes the family members who are most closely linked to you by blood, such as parents, brothers, sisters, or children
Only Lucía's nearest family members were invited to the small wedding.
someone's nearest family members
The lawyer first contacted Zayd's nearest relatives after the accident.
someone's nearest relatives — immediate family
When Tamar died, she left her house to her nearest cousin in Berlin.
After the surgery, only Ilan's nearest kin were allowed inside the hospital room.
- distant
'distant relatives' — family members far removed from you by blood
文法句型
someone's nearest + relations/relative noun
用法筆記
Almost always paired with a family noun (relatives, family, kin, cousin). Distinguish from sense 1 by the noun: a family-relation noun signals this sense.
3. happening or arriving the shortest time from now, especially when several future
happening or arriving the shortest time from now, especially when several future moments are being compared
The nearest available appointment with Dr. Stefan is on Tuesday morning.
the nearest + appointment (soonest time slot)
Diya checked the timetable for the nearest train back to the city.
the nearest + scheduled service noun
The nearest school holiday begins in three weeks, so the Okonkwo family planned a beach trip.
Hamza booked the nearest flight to Istanbul, which left in four hours.
- latest
the one that is furthest into the future
文法句型
the nearest + time noun
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 by the noun: a time or event noun (flight, appointment, holiday) signals this sense. Distinguish also from 'next' — 'the next flight' means whichever comes after now, while 'the nearest flight' compares several upcoming options and picks the soonest.
nearest — adverb
1. in the position that is the shortest physical distance from a stated point
in the position that is the shortest physical distance from a stated point
Of all the houses on the street, Sora's stands nearest to the river.
verb + nearest + to + place
Antonia, please sit nearest to the door so you can answer it for any guests.
imperative: sit nearest to + place
Among the three farms, the Olivia family lives nearest to the village school.
Zuri chose the armchair nearest to the window so she could watch the garden.
- closest
interchangeable in this sense; 'closest' is slightly more natural in American English
- farthest
in the longest physical distance from the reference point
文法句型
verb + nearest + to + place
the one that sits/lives/stands nearest
用法筆記
Often used with 'to' before the reference point. Distinguish from the adjective use by position: the adverb modifies a verb (stand nearest, sit nearest), while the adjective comes before a noun (the nearest house).
常見錯誤
2. in the position that is the shortest amount of time from a stated point in time
in the position that is the shortest amount of time from a stated point in time
Of all the candidates, Jude graduated nearest to the application deadline.
verb + nearest + to + deadline (time point)
Sivan's new bakery will open on the Monday nearest to October the first.
the [day] nearest to + date
Nikhil wanted the flight that lands nearest to noon, but it was fully booked.
Lakshmi chose the workshop dated nearest to her birthday weekend.
- closest
fully interchangeable in this sense
- farthest
the longest time away from the reference point
文法句型
verb + nearest + to + time noun
用法筆記
Less common than the distance sense and usually pairs with a specific date or clock time. Distinguish from sense 1 by what follows 'to' — a clock time or date signals this sense.
3. describes the attempt, version, or person that comes the closest to matching som
describes the attempt, version, or person that comes the closest to matching some target quality, ideal, or feeling without actually reaching it
Piotr's painting comes nearest to capturing the feeling of that summer afternoon.
come + nearest + to + -ing (capturing)
Of all the recipes Sade tried, this one tastes nearest to her grandmother's cooking.
taste/sound/feel + nearest + to + reference
Among the early attempts, Quan's design came nearest to perfection.
Alessia's gentle approach comes nearest to what we would call the ideal teaching style.
- closest
'comes closest to' is just as natural and often more common in speech
文法句型
come + nearest + to + -ing/state
the X that comes nearest to + state
用法筆記
Frequently follows 'come' or a sense verb (taste, sound, feel) and is followed by 'to' + an -ing form or a noun naming the target state. Distinguish from sense 1 by the reference point: a state, quality, or abstract idea signals this sense, not a place.
4. used in negative phrases to stress that something is very far from the truth, an
used in negative phrases to stress that something is very far from the truth, an amount, a quality, or a goal
Mateo's first guess was nowhere nearest to the right answer.
nowhere nearest to + reference (very far from)
The crowd at Anong's jazz concert last night was nowhere nearest to a thousand people.
nowhere nearest to + amount
Tamás's homemade pizza was nowhere nearest to the one we had in Rome.
Femi's running time was not anywhere nearest to a professional athlete's.
- nowhere near
more common in everyday English than 'nowhere nearest to'
- very close to
actually near the reference point
文法句型
not anywhere near (the) X
nowhere nearest to
用法筆記
Only appears in negative or near-negative phrases such as 'nowhere nearest to' or 'not anywhere nearest to'. Informal; many speakers prefer 'nowhere near' (without the superlative) in everyday speech.
常見錯誤
5. almost; very close to a quality or state, used in slightly old-fashioned or form
almost; very close to a quality or state, used in slightly old-fashioned or formal writing
William's reply came nearest a confession, though he never said the actual words.
came nearest + a + noun (close to being)
Élise's behaviour that evening was nearest reckless, yet not quite dangerous.
nearest + adjective (formal: almost)
Benjamin's silent stare was nearest an accusation, and Nicholas knew it.
The poet's final letter was nearest a farewell, written with calm acceptance.
文法句型
nearest + adjective
nearest + the + noun
用法筆記
Old-fashioned and rare in modern speech; 'almost' or 'very nearly' is the everyday choice. You will mainly meet this sense in older literary writing.
nearest — preposition
1. in the position that is the shortest physical distance from the thing or place t
in the position that is the shortest physical distance from the thing or place that follows, with no 'to' between them
The two seats nearest the stage were reserved for the director and her family.
the [noun] nearest + place (no 'to')
Romi sat nearest the fire and warmed her cold hands quickly.
verb + nearest + the + place (no 'to')
The cottage nearest the lake belongs to a retired teacher named Olivia.
Min stood nearest the train doors, ready to step off at the next stop.
- closest to
the everyday equivalent; almost always includes 'to'
- farthest from
longest distance from a reference point
文法句型
the X nearest the Y
sit/stand/place nearest the noun
用法筆記
This sense drops the 'to' that the adverb usually takes ('sit nearest the door' vs 'sit nearest to the door'). Both are correct; the version without 'to' feels slightly more formal or literary. Distinguish from the adverb sense 1 only by the absence of 'to'.