almost

UK: /ˈɔːlməʊst/

US: /ˈɔlmoʊst, ɔlˈmoʊst/

US: (ôl′mōst, ôl mōst′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

al•most /ˈɔlmoʊst, ɔlˈmoʊst/   adv. 

1. Pronouns very nearly;
   all but:
   to pay almost nothing for a car.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

al•most  (ôl′mōst, ôl mōst′), adv. 

1. Pronouns very nearly;
   all but:
   almost every house;
   to pay almost nothing for a car;
   almost twice as many books.

• bef. 1000; Middle English; Old English (e)al māst, variant of æl mǣst nearly

Synonyms

Almost (most), nearly, well-nigh all mean within a small degree of or short space of. Almost implies very little short of:
almost exhausted; almost home.
Most is colloquial for almost. Nearly implies a slightly greater distance or degree than almost:
nearly well; nearly to the city.
Well-nigh, a more literary word, implies a barely appreciable distance or extent:
well-nigh forgotten; well-nigh home.

Usage

See most. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

almost / ˈɔːlməʊst/ adverb

1. little short of being; very nearly