nigh

UK: /naɪ/ US: /naɪ/ ,(nī)

Inflections of 'nigh' (adj):

nigher

adj comparative

nighest

adj superlative

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

nigh /naɪ/   adv., adj., -er, -est, prep. 
adv. 

1. near in space, time, or relation:
   The ship drew nigh to the dock.
2. nearly;
   almost:
   arrived nigh onto midnight.

adj. 

3. near;
   approaching.

prep. 

4. near:
   She's nigh fifty now.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

nigh  (nī), adv., adj., nigh•er, nigh•est, prep., v. 
adv. 

1. near in space, time, or relation:
   The time draws nigh.
2. nearly;
   almost;
   (often fol. by on or onto):
   nigh onto twenty years.

adj. 

3. near;
   approaching:
   Evening is nigh.
4. short or direct:
   to take the nighest route.
5. (of an animal or vehicle) being on the left side:
   to be astride the nigh horse.
6. [Archaic.] parsimonious;
   stingy.

prep. 

7. near.

v.i., v.t. 

8. [Archaic.] to approach.

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

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

nigh / naɪ/ adjective , adverb , preposition

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

Etymology: Old English nēah, nēh; related to German nah, Old Frisian nei. Compare near, next