nearby

neer-BY/ˌnɪə(ɹ)ˈbaɪ/

3 meanings of nearby

1
closeadjective
Situated a short distance away; close at hand.
Residents fled to a nearby shelter when the river overflowed.
The hotel recommended several nearby restaurants for dinner.
UsageUsually goes before a noun, even a place name: a nearby town, nearby Boston.
Similarlocal, neighboring, adjacent
Oppositedistant, faraway, remote
2
close byadverb
At or to a short distance from a given point; close at hand.
A fire station stands nearby, so help arrives within minutes.
He parked nearby and walked the rest of the way to the stadium.
UsageUsually ends the phrase: live nearby, park nearby. Before a place, near is the usual choice: near the station.
Similarclose

Less common meaning

3
noun
In futures trading, whichever contract within a particular group comes due for settlement first.

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Origin

From Middle English ner-bi or neer by, formed from the combination of near and by.

Checked 7 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

Nearby derives from Middle English ner-bi or neer by, combining near and by. en.wiktionary.org