Almost

/ˈɔː(l)məs/

Synonyms for "almost" (81 found)

Ranked by relevance and common usage.

Closest matches (17)

Adverb(3 words)
aboutall butapproximatelyaroundas good asas much asbarelybordering onclose
Noun(1 words)
about math
Adverb(3 words)
all butas good asas near as makes no difference
Preposition(1 words)

Strong matches (24)

Noun(6 words)
close connectionclose todang neardarnlittle moremost entire
Adverb(3 words)
fornighjust aboutmore or less
Adjective(2 words)
icelandic nálægtknapp
Adverb(3 words)
imperfectlymore oral-interviewmost

Related words (40)

Adverb(6 words)
near as damn itnigh onnighwhatnot quitepretty muchtantamount to
Preposition(1 words)
Verb(1 words)
Noun(1 words)
virtual result

Choosing the right synonym

  • Closest matches in this entry: about, nearly, virtually, about, about math.
  • Sentence evidence is available for almost, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
  • Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.

Synonym selection checklist

  • Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
  • Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
  • Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "almost".
  • Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.

When not to replace "almost"

Keep "almost" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.

If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.

Replacement workflow

1. Preserve meaning

Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "almost" intact in the sentence you are editing.

2. Tune tone

Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.

3. Re-read context

Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.

Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.

Final fit check

After choosing a replacement for "almost", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.

If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "almost" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.

Related word relations

OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.

4 relation types

More general

2 entries

More specific

2 entries

Collocations

6 entries
almost alwaysalmost finishedalmost identicalalmost neveralmost the samealmost there

Derivations

1 entries

Translations

9 translations across 5 languages.

Powered by Wiktionary

Armenian

1 entries
  • գրեթե adv ((mathematics))

Bulgarian

1 entries
  • почти adv ((mathematics))

Finnish

4 entries
  • liki adv ((mathematics))
  • lähes adv ((mathematics))
  • melkein adv ((mathematics))
  • miltei adv ((mathematics))

German

1 entries
  • fast adv ((mathematics))

Polish

2 entries
  • niemal adv ((mathematics))
  • prawie adv ((mathematics))

Sample sentences

23 total sentences available.

Tatoeba + Wiktionary

It almost scared me not to see you online for a whole day.

Source: tatoeba (1407)

Seriously though, episode 21 made me almost cry while laughing.

Source: tatoeba (1454)

I'm almost done.

Source: tatoeba (2040)

This business plan of yours seems almost too optimistic. All I can say is I hope it's more than just wishful thinking.

Source: tatoeba (16893)

Showing 4 of 23 available sentences.

Common questions

What are the closest synonyms for "almost"?

Closest matches include about, nearly, virtually, about, about math.

How should I check whether a synonym fits "almost"?

Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.

More for "almost"