nearly

Etymology

From near + -ly.

adv

1. In close approximation; almost, virtually.
   He left a nearly full beer on the bar.
   I nearly didn't go to work yesterday.
   He was (so/very) nearly caught.
   She was like a Beardsley Salome, he had said. And indeed she had the narrow eyes and the high cheekbone of that creature, and as nearly the sinuosity as is compatible with human symmetry. 1922, Ben Travers, chapter 1, in A Cuckoo in the Nest
   'Since Heidi's been here, delightful things have happened nearly every day.' 1956 [1880], Johanna Spyri, Heidi, translation of original by Eileen Hall, page 97
   In the past two years, NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope has located nearly 3,000 exoplanet candidates ranging from sub-Earth-sized minions to gas giants that dwarf our own Jupiter. 2013 May-June, Kevin Heng, “Why Does Nature Form Exoplanets Easily?”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3, archived from the original on 2013-05-09, page 184
2. (now rare) With great scrutiny; carefully.
3. With close relation; intimately.
   She could have joined most comfortably in all their supposings, and suspicions, and doubts, and prognostications, but the honour of the family was too nearly concerned to allow free reins to her tongue. 1837, The Dublin University Magazine
4. Closely, in close proximity.
5. Stingily.