nearby
neer-BY/ˌnɪə(ɹ)ˈbaɪ/
- 1Close to you or to the place you are talking about, only a short distance away.
Like a store just around the corner from your house.
We grabbed lunch at a nearby café before the meeting.
Snow covered the nearby hills all winter long.
UsageIt usually comes before a noun: a nearby store.
Similarlocal, neighboring, adjacent
- 2At a short distance away from a place or person.
Like sitting close enough to hear someone talk without shouting.
She lives nearby, so she walks to work each day.
The children played nearby while we set up the picnic.
UsageIt usually comes last: she lives nearby. Before a place, say near: near the park.
Similarclose
Less common meaning
- 3In trading, the contract in a group that will be settled the soonest.
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Origin
From Middle English words meaning "near" and "by" joined together.
Checked 7 Nov 2026 · 1 fact
- Nearby derives from Middle English forms combining words meaning "near" and "by". en.wiktionary.org