nearby

nearby — adverb

1. at a short distance from where you are, or from a place or person you are talkin

1.adverbA2
Definition

at a short distance from where you are, or from a place or person you are talking about

Example

Maeve lives nearby and often walks to our house for dinner.

verb + nearby

The nearest hospital is nearby, so an ambulance can reach us quickly.

be + nearby

Common collocations
  • live nearby
  • work nearby
  • stay nearby
  • somewhere nearby
  • just nearby
Synonyms
  • close by

    slightly more informal; often implies a very short walk or distance

  • not far (away)

    more descriptive; useful when giving directions

  • in the area

    broader — could mean the same neighbourhood, not necessarily within sight

Antonyms
  • far away

    opposite in both literal and figurative distance

  • at a distance

    suggests deliberate separation or remoteness

Grammar Patterns

verb + nearby

noun + nearby

Usage Note

Often placed at the end of a sentence or clause. Can also follow a noun: 'a hotel nearby'.

Common Mistakes

She works in nearby.
She works nearby.
'nearby' as an adverb does not need a preposition before it.
The store is in the nearby.
The store is nearby.
'nearby' is not a noun and should not follow 'the'.

nearby — adjective

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

Both 'nearby' and 'close by' describe a short physical distance and are often interchangeable when placed after a verb: 'She lives nearby' / 'She lives close by'. 'Close by' sounds slightly more informal and conversational. The word 'close' can also mean 'at a short distance' ('The hotel is close to the station') but is more general — it can describe emotional relationships ('close friends') or time ('close to midnight'). 'Not far' is a descriptive phrase rather than a single adverb: 'The station is not far from here' — useful for giving reassurance without naming an exact distance. For learners, 'nearby' is the safest choice for locations that are within walking distance, while 'close by' adds a warmer, more informal tone.

nearby ↗close ↗close bynot far

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • close by

Etymology

Old EnglishModern English

'nearby' is a compound of 'near' and 'by', both from Old English. 'Near' comes from Old English 'nēar', which was originally the comparative form of 'nēah' (meaning 'nigh'). 'By' comes from Old English 'bī', meaning 'beside, near, at'. The two words began appearing together as a compound in the 1800s, first as an adverb and later also as an adjective.