A2adverb1K

Almost

UK /["/ˈɔːlməʊst/"]/US /["/ˈɔːlməʊst/"]/

Definition

not quite

In simple words: not quite, but very close to something

Examples

  • I almost forgot to bring my umbrella today.
  • She almost won the race, finishing just seconds behind.
  • It's almost time for dinner; can you set the table?
  • The movie was almost too scary for me to watch alone.
  • He almost finished the project before the deadline.

Usage notes

Use 'almost' to indicate something is nearly true or happening. It's commonly used in both spoken and written English. Avoid overusing it to prevent sounding vague.

Grammar pattern

almost + verb/adjective/noun

Memory hint

Almost sounds like 'all most' — imagine being just a little shy of being 'all the way'.

Collocations

  • almost finished
  • almost there
  • almost perfect
  • almost everyone
  • almost never

Synonyms

  • nearly

Antonyms

  • completely
  • totally
  • entirely

Common mistakes

  • 'Almost' used with a negative word (e.g., 'almost not') which creates confusion.
  • Confusing 'almost' with 'nearly' as they have similar meanings but may differ in nuance.
  • Using 'almost' where 'just' would be more appropriate.