1. past tense and past participle of near; came close to in distance, time, or degree

Examples

• The ship neared the harbor as the sun began to set.
• As the deadline neared, the team worked more frantically.
• She neared the finish line with determination.
• The temperature neared freezing during the night.
• He neared retirement after forty years of service.
• The storm neared the coast, bringing heavy winds.
• As we neared the summit, the air became thinner.