FluencyCraft

almost

"Almost" is a very common and useful English word with essentially one core meaning, but it shows up in many different situations. It's the kind of word you'll use every single day!

1adverbnearly, but not quite

When something is very close to being true, but not completely true, you use 'almost'. Think of it like reaching for something on a high shelf — your fingers are right there, but you haven't quite touched it yet. That gap between 'very close' and 'fully there' is exactly what 'almost' describes.

everyday language · Modern, widely used

I almost missed the bus — I ran and caught it just in time.

She has almost finished her homework; she just has one more question to answer.

It is almost midnight, so we should go to bed soon.

2adverbvery nearly a large amount or degree

You can also use 'almost' to say that a number, amount, or level is very close to a certain point. It softens a big claim — instead of saying 'everyone', you say 'almost everyone' to be more accurate and honest.

everyday language · Modern, widely used

Almost all of the students passed the exam — only two did not.

He has read almost every book in the library.

The bag weighs almost five kilograms.

3adverbfigurativeused to soften a surprising or strong statement

Sometimes 'almost' is used to say that something feels so strong or surprising that it is hard to believe — but you are not being 100% literal. It adds a sense of emphasis while keeping things realistic.

everyday language · Modern, widely used · figurative

The silence in the room was almost frightening.

The food was so good it was almost unreal.

He spoke with an almost perfect accent in French.

Content generated by AI — may contain inaccuracies