WordGarden.ioalmost
A1Pronunciation
UK
- /ˈɔːlməʊst/
US
- /ˈɔlˌmoʊst/
Meanings
Adverb
nearly; not quite
Beyond the definition
“Almost” describes something that nearly happened, or is very close to being true—but isn’t quite there yet. Think of a runner who almost wins, or a cake that is almost done baking. It suggests a small gap between what is and what could be. You might say you almost missed your bus, meaning you were very close to being late. You can also use it with amounts and frequency: almost ten minutes, almost all the cookies, almost every day.
It’s important to remember that “almost” isn’t the same as “enough.” You might have almost enough money for a new bike, but “almost” won’t buy it for you! It implies proximity, not completion.
The word “almost” indicates that something is very near to being complete, true, or realized, but hasn’t quite reached that point. It expresses a degree of approximation—a state of being close without fully achieving the desired outcome. For example: “She almost fell off her bike” means she wobbled dangerously but managed to stay upright. Or: “The project is almost finished” suggests it’s nearing completion with only minor tasks remaining.
“Almost” can be used in several contexts. It can describe physical proximity: “We were almost home when the storm hit.” It can refer to time: “I almost forgot your birthday!” It can describe quantity or frequency: “There’s almost no milk left,” “almost everyone agreed,” or “I almost always take the train.”
Interestingly, “almost” isn’t always about failure. Sometimes it highlights a near success. A student who almost gets a perfect score on a test has still done very well! It can also be used to soften potentially negative statements; “I almost agree with you” is less confrontational than outright disagreement.
The nuance of “almost” lies in its implication of incompleteness. It acknowledges the effort or progress made while simultaneously highlighting the remaining distance to full realization. So, whether describing a near miss, a close call, or an incomplete task, “almost” signifies a state of being just shy of completion—a tantalizingly close but not-quite-there situation.
Examples
- 1
Time estimate
The trip took almost three hours.
- 2
Readiness
Dinner is almost ready.
- 3
Progress
We've almost finished the project.
- 4
Near accident
She almost dropped her phone on the stairs.
- Patternalmost + past action
it nearly happened, but it didn't
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Punctuality
I was almost late for work.
- 6
Nearly all
Almost everyone in the class passed the test.
- 7
Rare habit
I almost never drink coffee after lunch.
- Phrasealmost never
very rarely
- 8
Comparison
His new apartment is almost as big as the old one.
- Patternalmost as + adjective + as
nearly the same
See also
Similar
- nearly
- just about
- not quite
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Do not confuse
Used with (collocations)
- almost always
- almost never
- almost done
- almost there
Explore
- approximation
- near miss
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- almostadverb