Nigh

/naɪ/

Meaning & Definition

adjective
Nearby; close.
The nigh road leads directly to the town.
adverb
Close to; near in a figurative sense.
He has nigh given up hope of finding his lost puppy.
Near in distance or time.
The deadline is nigh, and we need to finalize our project.
Almost; nearly.
The work is nigh complete, just a few more adjustments to make.

Etymology

Old English 'nigh', akin to the German 'nahe' meaning near.

Common Phrases and Expressions

nigh on
Approximately; nearly.
nigh as makes no difference
Almost the same; for practical purposes they are the same.

Related Words

nearby
Close at hand; not far away.
approaching
To come near or nearer to.
imminent
About to happen; looming.

Slang Meanings

Close in time or space, often used humorously.
Our deadline is nigh, so we better hustle.
Almost complete, usually in a casual context.
I'm nigh done with this project.