as in approaching
being soon to appear or take place
teachers preparing for the fast-nearing school year
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in coming
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in closing
to come near or nearer
as the procession nears, you'll be able to take a better picture of the graduates
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in entering
to move closer to
as we near the church, you'll be able to see the bas-relief sculptures better
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of nearing
Justin Kroll, Deadline, 24 Mar. 2026
With Opening Day nearing — Lagrange may pitch Monday against the Cubs with the Yankees concluding spring training in Arizona — odds are the flame-thrower will start the year at Triple-A.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 18 Mar. 2026
Oil prices have swung sharply since the start of the Iran war, with oil nearing hitting nearly $120 per barrel on Monday.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 13 Mar. 2026
That decision is a major step in the franchise’s ongoing effort (and challenge) to keep a collection of high-end defensive talent acquired over the past four seasons with rookie contracts expiring or nearing expiration.
—Zach Berman, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026
Christopher Carl, a 29-year-old medical student nearing graduation, was among those who braved the afternoon heat to go cast a ballot.
—From Staff Reports, Dallas Morning News, 3 Mar. 2026
With springtime nearing, the promise of draping yourself in breezier attire is becoming more enticing — especially after such a long, cold winter.
—Rudolf Obias, Footwear News, 3 Mar. 2026
Two months after the Michigan Department of Transportation sounded the alarm on funding needs to repair bridges nearing or past the end of their lifespan in August, the Michigan Legislature passed its transportation funding package, which also established the Neighborhood Roads Fund.
—Jack Springgate, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
Well, there is that 44-unit apartment complex nearing completion at Orchard Drive and Indianwood Boulevard.
—Jerry Shnay, Chicago Tribune, 12 Jan. 2026
Mike Jones, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2026
Standard systems use silicon for computation, which, for some time, has been nearing the limits for its efficiency, which has a major impact on its scalability and power consumption.
—Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 30 Apr. 2026
Turkana is nearing its critical breakup stage, the researchers said.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 29 Apr. 2026
The 2026 primary election is nearing.
—Angela Rodriguez, Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 2026
The record is nearing completion with about a dozen tracks already slated.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 28 Apr. 2026
The district currently has the highest average teacher pay in Colorado, with salaries nearing $100,000, which is roughly $20,000 above the state average.
—Sarah Horbacewicz, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2026
The project is solar-powered and nearing self-sufficiency.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
West Texas Intermediate crude, the American benchmark, was once again nearing $100 per barrel, an unsettling development.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2026
Noun
World Of Reel first had news of Hartnett’s casting and the project nearing shoot.
—Justin Kroll, Deadline, 24 Mar. 2026
With Opening Day nearing — Lagrange may pitch Monday against the Cubs with the Yankees concluding spring training in Arizona — odds are the flame-thrower will start the year at Triple-A.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 18 Mar. 2026
Oil prices have swung sharply since the start of the Iran war, with oil nearing hitting nearly $120 per barrel on Monday.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 13 Mar. 2026
That decision is a major step in the franchise’s ongoing effort (and challenge) to keep a collection of high-end defensive talent acquired over the past four seasons with rookie contracts expiring or nearing expiration.
—Zach Berman, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026
Christopher Carl, a 29-year-old medical student nearing graduation, was among those who braved the afternoon heat to go cast a ballot.
—From Staff Reports, Dallas Morning News, 3 Mar. 2026
With springtime nearing, the promise of draping yourself in breezier attire is becoming more enticing — especially after such a long, cold winter.
—Rudolf Obias, Footwear News, 3 Mar. 2026
Two months after the Michigan Department of Transportation sounded the alarm on funding needs to repair bridges nearing or past the end of their lifespan in August, the Michigan Legislature passed its transportation funding package, which also established the Neighborhood Roads Fund.
—Jack Springgate, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
Well, there is that 44-unit apartment complex nearing completion at Orchard Drive and Indianwood Boulevard.
—Jerry Shnay, Chicago Tribune, 12 Jan. 2026
Verb
Signs continue to point toward the nearing completion of a new collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and the NFL Referees Association.
—Mike Jones, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2026
Standard systems use silicon for computation, which, for some time, has been nearing the limits for its efficiency, which has a major impact on its scalability and power consumption.
—Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 30 Apr. 2026
Turkana is nearing its critical breakup stage, the researchers said.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 29 Apr. 2026
The 2026 primary election is nearing.
—Angela Rodriguez, Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 2026
The record is nearing completion with about a dozen tracks already slated.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 28 Apr. 2026
The district currently has the highest average teacher pay in Colorado, with salaries nearing $100,000, which is roughly $20,000 above the state average.
—Sarah Horbacewicz, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2026
The project is solar-powered and nearing self-sufficiency.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
West Texas Intermediate crude, the American benchmark, was once again nearing $100 per barrel, an unsettling development.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nearing
Adjective
-
Summer is fast approaching, with warm temperatures expected to hit Washington DC and make for a sticky and humid start to the season, a familiar reality for residents across the DMV.—
Mike Stunson,
USA Today,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Colorado’s first open race for governor in eight years is fast approaching, and The Denver Post wants your questions for the candidates.—
Jon Murray,
Denver Post,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Four years later, his old friend Paul Rayburn (Bobby Cannavale) arrives to rescue him from himself, carting him down to Rio, where Rayburn is working for a security company on a construction site — there is a presidential election coming, and protests are feared.—
Television Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Hartnell evoked the coming of spring by adorning the gown with wheat and flowers in gold and silver thread.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The news from Bristol comes just over a week after Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam announced a similar pending letter of intent, with the aim of closing a deal to be acquired by UConn by October.—
Katy Golvala,
Hartford Courant,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Orlando’s annual Corporate 5K race returns to Lake Eola Park on Thursday, closing several roads in the city’s downtown.—
Silas Morgan,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
That’s more of a long-term goal, with the expectation that the Rangers will aim to nab one piece with their top-five pick in the upcoming NHL Draft and keep an eye out for any others who hit the market either this summer or down the road.—
Vincent Z. Mercogliano,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Veteran right-hander Phil Maton will be activated from the IL during the Cubs’ upcoming series in San Diego.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But there also are other elements of the revision that play to the very essence of the Heat anti-tank approach, an approach in place since Riley’s 1995 arrival as franchise steward.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Imai’s longtime trainer, whose arrival in Houston was delayed by visa issues, has now joined his entourage, a move team officials hope will aid the transition.—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But, with the advent of platforms such as Instagram and YouTube, the online self became highly saleable.—
T. M. Brown,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The polio vaccine is one of the greatest public health achievements of our time, protecting against a paralyzing and potentially life-threatening virus that once struck fear in the hearts of parents prior to the advent of the vaccine in 1955.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The experience exposed her to the work of American video artists Gary Hill and Bill Viola, who offered influential examples of new videomaking approaches.—
Pauline J. Yao,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
-
One idea, conversation, or realization can shift your approach in a lasting way.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nearing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nearing. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
