almost — English Dictionary

Adverb

1. Very close to, but not quite.

   Usage

   • not-comparable

   Examples

   Almost all people went there.

   We almost missed the train.

   More examples (6)

   Nobody, or almost, noticed anything unusual.

   Although the Celebrity was almost impervious to sarcasm, he was now beginning to exhibit visible signs of uneasiness, the consciousness dawning upon him that his eccentricity was not receiving the ovation it merited.

   This time was most dreadful for Lilian. Thrown on her own resources and almost penniless, she maintained herself and paid the rent of a wretched room near the hospital by working as a charwoman, sempstress, anything. In a moment she had dropped to the level of a casual labourer.

   Eustace gaped at him in amazement. When his urbanity dropped away from him, as now, he had an innocence of expression which was almost infantile. It was as if the world had never touched him at all.

   For some odd reason, Sherin has chosen to direct the play as a comedy — at times almost a farce.

   In order to grant the rich these pleasures, the social contract is reconfigured. […] The public realm is privatised, the regulations restraining the ultra-wealthy and the companies they control are abandoned, and Edwardian levels of inequality are almost fetishised.

2. Up to, except for a negligible set (where negligible is not universally but contextually defined).

   Usage

   • not-comparable

   Examples

   almost all

   almost no

3. Up to, except for a negligible set (where negligible is not universally but contextually defined). Up to a null set; except for a set of measure 0.

   Usage

   • not-comparable

   Examples

   almost everywhere

   almost nowhere

   More examples (2)

   almost certain

   almost sure

Noun

1. Something or someone that doesn't quite make it.

   Usage

   • Informal

   Examples

   In all the submissions, they found four papers that were clearly worth publishing and another dozen almosts.

Adverb

1. (of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

   Synonyms

   aboutmostnearlynearnighvirtuallywell-nigh

   Examples

   the job is (just) about done

   the baby was almost asleep when the alarm sounded

   More examples (8)

   we're almost finished

   the car all but ran her down

   he nearly fainted

   talked for nigh onto 2 hours

   the recording is well-nigh perfect

   virtually all the parties signed the contract

   I was near exhausted by the run

   most everyone agrees