Nearby: meaning, definitions and examples

Use 'nearby' when referring to something that is short distance away, but not necessarily immediate. It's fairly casual and is often used in everyday conversation.

• There is a coffee shop nearby.
• A library is nearby if you want to borrow some books.

Use 'close by' to describe something that is near and within a short distance, often in a casual or conversational tone.

• There’s a grocery store close by.
• Is there a hospital close by?

Use 'adjacent' in more formal or technical contexts to describe something that is next to or adjoining. Often used in geometry, maps, and technical descriptions.

• My office is adjacent to the conference room.
• The two cities are adjacent to the river.

Use 'near' to indicate proximity and it can be used in both formal and informal contexts. It's a very versatile word.

• The school is near the park.
• They live near the coast.

Use 'proximate' in formal or academic contexts to indicate closeness or immediateness. Common in legal, academic, or professional language.

• The proximate cause of the accident was a broken traffic light.
• We are studying phenomena in proximate galaxies.

Used when indicating something that is located a short distance away.

• There's a cafe nearby where we can grab a coffee.
• She lives nearby, so we can visit her easily.

Indicates a short physical or emotional distance; can be used more broadly than 'nearby'.

• The grocery store is close to my house.
• He is very close to his sister.

Used to describe something that is next to or adjoining something else, often referring to buildings, rooms, or areas.

• The school is adjacent to the library.
• We parked in the lot adjacent to the shopping center.

Refers to something in the vicinity or in close proximity, usually in terms of locations such as cities, countries, or homes.

• They moved to a neighboring town last year.
• The neighboring countries signed a trade agreement.

A more formal term to indicate something that is very near or imminent.

• The proximate cause of the accident was a broken traffic light.
• The hotel is in proximate distance to the beach.