nigh

[nahy]

adverb

1. near in space, time, or relation.

   The time draws nigh.

2. nearly; almost; (often followed by on oronto ).

   nigh onto twenty years.

adjective

nigher, nighest 

1. near; approaching.

   Evening is nigh.

2. short or direct.

   to take the nighest route.

3. (of an animal or vehicle) being on the left side.

   to be astride the nigh horse.

4. Archaic.,  parsimonious; stingy.

preposition

1. near.

verb (used with or without object)

1. Archaic.,  to approach.

nigh

/ naɪ /

adjective

1. an archaic, poetic, or dialect word for near

Other Word Forms

• unnigh adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of nigh¹

before 900; Middle English nigh ( e ), neye, Old English nēah, nēh, cognate with Dutch na, German nahe, Old Norse nā-, Gothic nehw, nehwa; near, next

Word History and Origins

Origin of nigh¹

Old English nēah, nēh; related to German nah, Old Frisian nei. Compare _near , _next

Example Sentences

At that moment it appeared the end of Guehi's career at Palace was nigh.

From BBC

The scale of it, and its remorseless growth over the last 48 to 72 hours, nigh on guaranteed his eventual capitulation.

From BBC

"For our model, and I would say for the vast majority of regional producing theatres, that is nigh on impossible."

From BBC

America's mainstream newsrooms have been trying to and failing for nigh on a quarter century, steadily ceding attention to an ascendant right-wing media led by Fox News, websites and podcasters.

From Salon

As is so often the case, a rendition of Robbie Williams' Angels indicated the end of the night was nigh.

From BBC