DictionaryAI

almost

SayAWL-mohst/ˈɔl.moʊst/UK/ˈɔːɫ.məʊst/

Noun pluralalmosts

3 meanings of almost

Practice

  1. 1
    nearlyadverb
    Very close to something but not completely there yet.

    Like your fingers reaching for something but stopping just short of touching it.

    We were almost home when the rain started.

    She almost missed the train this morning.

    UsageSay almost all people or almost every day (not incorrect: almost people).

    Similarnearly, practically, virtually

    Note
  2. 2
    near missnouncolloquialcountable
    A person or thing that gets close to success but fails to reach it.

    Like a runner who reaches the finish line a step too late.

    Our team was an almost again, losing by just one point.

    Among all the almosts of his career, this loss hurt the most.

    Similaralso-ran

    Note

Less common meaning

  1. 3
    adverb
    In math, true except for cases forming a set that is considered small in a precisely defined way.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of almost apart? Answer 4 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Old English eallmǣst, meaning "nearly all," made from "all" plus "most."

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 3 facts