Near vs. At — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 26, 2024
Near implies proximity without exactness, focusing on being close to something; at signifies a precise location or a point of attendance.
Difference Between Near and At
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Near often suggests a close but not exact location, usually relative to another object or place. For example, saying something is near a park implies it is in the vicinity but not necessarily within the park's boundaries. At, on the other hand, indicates a more specific location. It is used to denote presence at a point or area, like being at the entrance of the park.
While near is more about approximate distance, at focuses on an exact or fixed position. For instance, one might say they live near downtown, implying a general area around the city center, whereas saying they are at the downtown café specifies a particular spot.
Near also conveys a sense of being in the general environment of something, which can be physical or metaphorical. This is evident when one says they are near completion of a task, suggesting they are close but not quite finished. Conversely, at in this context would be unusual as it doesn’t fit abstract uses.
Near also has broader uses in comparative contexts, such as in phrases like "nearer the time," which suggests a closer point in time but not a precise moment. At is used for exact times, such as in "at 5 o'clock," where it pinpoints a specific moment.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Proximity without exactness.
Precise location or point.
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Usage Context
General vicinity or closeness.
Specific point or exact location.
Physical Use
Not necessarily immediate.
Implies being on the spot.
Temporal Use
Less precise, e.g., near noon.
Exact, e.g., at noon.
Metaphorical
Yes, e.g., near completion.
Rarely used metaphorically.
Compare with Definitions
Near
Close to in distance.
The library is near the school.
At
Present in a particular environment.
She was at the party last night.
Near
Relatively close to a condition.
He is near tears from joy.
At
Engaged in a particular activity.
He is good at mathematics.
Near
Almost or approximately.
The work is near completion.
At
At a specific point or period in time.
At dawn, the birds start singing.
Near
In close relation to.
She kept the secret near her heart.
At
In or very close to a specific place.
Meet me at the gate.
Near
Not far away in time.
Summer is near.
At
Used to point out specific conditions.
At 20 degrees, water freezes.
Near
To, at, or within a short distance or interval in space or time
Moved the table nearer to the wall.
As graduation draws near.
At
Expressing location or arrival in a particular place or position
They live at Conway House
They stopped at a small trattoria
Near
Just about; almost; nearly
Was near exhausted from the climb.
At
Expressing the time when an event takes place
The children go to bed at nine o'clock
His death came at a time when the movement was split
Near
With or in a close relationship
It turns out we are near related.
At
Denoting a particular point or level on a scale
Driving at 50 mph
Prices start at £18,500
Near
Close in time, space, position, or degree
Near neighbors.
Near equals.
At
Expressing a particular state or condition
His ready smile put her at ease
They were at a disadvantage
Near
Closely related by kinship or association; intimate
A near relative.
A near and dear friend.
At
Expressing the object of a look, thought, action, or plan
I looked at my watch
Policies aimed at reducing taxation
Leslie pointed at him
Near
Nearly occurring but not actually happening
A near victory.
A near disaster.
At
Expressing the means by which something is done
Her pride had taken a beating at his hands
Holding a prison officer at knifepoint
Near
Just barely avoided
A near hit by the incendiary bomb.
At
A monetary unit of Laos, equal to one hundredth of a kip.
Near
Closely corresponding to or resembling an original
A near likeness.
At
In or near the area occupied by; in or near the location of
At the market.
At our destination.
Near
Closely resembling the genuine article
A dress of near satin.
Near silver beads.
At
In or near the position of
Always at my side.
At the center of the page.
Near
Closer of two or more
Take the near street and then turn right.
At
To or toward the direction or location of, especially for a specific purpose
Questions came at us from all sides.
Near
Being on the left side of an animal or vehicle.
At
Present during; attending
At the dance.
Near
Being the animal or vehicle on the left.
At
Within the interval or span of
At the dinner hour.
At a glance.
Near
Short and direct
The nearest route to town.
At
In the state or condition of
At peace with one's conscience.
Near
(Archaic) Stingy; parsimonious.
At
In the activity or field of
Skilled at playing chess.
Good at math.
Near
Close to
An inn near London.
At
To or using the rate, extent, or amount of; to the point of
At 30 cents a pound.
At high speed.
At 20 paces.
At 350°F.
Near
To come close or closer to
The plane neared the terminal.
At
On, near, or by the time or age of
At three o'clock.
At 72 years of age.
Near
To draw near or nearer; approach
As the holiday nears.
At
On account of; because of
Rejoice at a victory.
Near
Physically close.
I can't see near objects very clearly without my glasses.
Stay near at all times.
At
By way of; through
Exited at the rear gate.
Near
Close in time.
The end is near.
At
In accord with; following
At my request.
Near
Closely connected or related.
The deceased man had no near relatives.
At
Dependent upon
At the mercy of the court.
Near
Close to one's interests, affection, etc.; intimate; dear.
A matter of near consequence to me.
A near friend
At
Occupied with
At work.
Near
Close to anything followed or imitated; not free, loose, or rambling.
A version near to the original
At
In, near, or in the general vicinity of a particular place.
Caesar was at Rome
At the corner of Fourth Street and Vine
At Jim’s house
Near
So as barely to avoid or pass injury or loss; close; narrow.
A near escape
At
Indicating occurrence in an instant of time or a period of time relatively short in context or from the speaker's perspective.
At six o’clock
At closing time
At night
Near
Approximate, almost.
The two words are near synonyms.
At
In the direction of (often in an unfocused or uncaring manner).
He threw the ball at me.
He shouted at her.
Near
On the side nearest to the kerb (the left-hand side if one drives on the left).
The near front wheel came loose.
At
Denotes a price.
3 apples at 2¢ (each)
The offer was at $30,000 before negotiations.
Near
(dated) Next to the driver, when he is on foot; (US) on the left of an animal or a team.
The near ox; the near leg
At
Occupied in (activity).
Men at work
Near
(obsolete) Immediate; direct; close; short.
At
In a state of.
She is at sixes and sevens with him.
They are at loggerheads over how best to tackle the fiscal cliff.
The city was at the mercy of the occupying forces.
Near
Stingy; parsimonious.
Don't be near with your pocketbook.
At
Indicates a position on a scale or in a series.
Sell at 90.
Tiger finished the round at tenth, seven strokes behind the leaders.
I'm offering it—just to select customers—at cost.
Near
Within the currently selected segment in a segmented memory architecture.
A near pointer
At
Because of.
To laugh at a joke
Mad at their comments
Near
At or towards a position close in space or time. en
At
Indicates a means, method, or manner.
Near
Nearly; almost.
He was near unconscious when I found him.
I jumped into the near-freezing water.
I near ruptured myself trying to move the piano.
At
Holding a given speed or rate.
It is growing at the rate of 3% a year.
Cruising along at fifty miles per hour.
Near
Physically close to, in close proximity to.
There are habitable planets orbiting many of the stars near our Sun.
At
(used for skills (including in activities) or areas of knowledge) On the subject of; regarding.
The twins were both bad at chemistry.
He slipped at marksmanship over his extended vacation.
Near
Close to in time.
The voyage was near completion.
At
Bothering, irritating, causing discomfort to
Near
Close to in nature or degree.
His opinions are near the limit of what is acceptable.
At
On a particular date.
Near
(ambitransitive) To come closer to; to approach.
The ship nears the land.
At
The at sign (@).
Near
The left side of a horse or of a team of horses pulling a carriage etc.
Off side
At
Rare form of @
Near
At a little distance, in place, time, manner, or degree; not remote; nigh.
My wife! my traitress! let her not come near me.
At
Primarily, this word expresses the relations of presence, nearness in place or time, or direction toward; as, at the ninth hour; at the house; to aim at a mark. It is less definite than in or on; at the house may be in or near the house. From this original import are derived all the various uses of at.
Near
Nearly; almost; well-nigh.
Near about the yearly value of the land.
At
A relation of proximity to, or of presence in or on, something; as, at the door; at your shop; at home; at school; at hand; at sea and on land.
Near
Closely; intimately.
At
The relation of some state or condition; as, at war; at peace; at ease; at your service; at fault; at liberty; at risk; at disadvantage.
Near
Not far distant in time, place, or degree; not remote; close at hand; adjacent; neighboring; nigh.
He served great Hector, and was ever near,Not with his trumpet only, but his spear.
At
The relation of some employment or action; occupied with; as, at engraving; at husbandry; at play; at work; at meat (eating); except at puns.
Near
Closely connected or related.
She is thy father's near kinswoman.
At
The relation of a point or position in a series, or of degree, rate, or value; as, with the thermometer at 80°; goods sold at a cheap price; a country estimated at 10,000 square miles; life is short at the longest.
Near
Close to one's interests, affection, etc.; touching, or affecting intimately; intimate; dear; as, a near friend.
At
The relations of time, age, or order; as, at ten o'clock; at twenty-one; at once; at first.
Near
Close to anything followed or imitated; not free, loose, or rambling; as, a version near to the original.
At
The relations of source, occasion, reason, consequence, or effect; as, at the sight; at this news; merry at anything; at this declaration; at his command; to demand, require, receive, deserve, endure at your hands.
Near
So as barely to avoid or pass injury or loss; close; narrow{3}; as, a near escape; a near miss.
At
Relation of direction toward an object or end; as, look at it; to point at one; to aim at a mark; to throw, strike, shoot, wink, mock, laugh at any one.
Near
Immediate; direct; close; short.
At
A highly unstable radioactive element (the heaviest of the halogen series); a decay product of uranium and thorium
Near
Close-fisted; parsimonious.
At
100 at equal 1 kip
Near
To approach; to come nearer; as, the ship neared the land.
Near
To draw near; to approach.
A speck, a mist, a shape, I wist!And still it neared, and neared.
Near
Move towards;
We were approaching our destination
They are drawing near
The enemy army came nearer and nearer
Near
Not far distant in time or space or degree or circumstances;
Near neighbors
In the near future
They are near equals
His nearest approach to success
A very near thing
A near hit by the bomb
She was near tears
She was close to tears
Had a close call
Near
Being on the left side;
The near or nigh horse is the one on the left
The animal's left side is its near or nigh side
Near
Closely resembling the genuine article;
Near beer
A dress of near satin
Near
Giving or spending with reluctance;
Our cheeseparing administration
Very close (or near) with his money
A penny-pinching miserly old man
Near
With or in a close or intimate relationship;
A good friend
My sisters and brothers are near and dear
Near
Very close in resemblance;
Sketched in an approximate likeness
A near likeness
Near
Near in time or place or relationship;
As the wedding day drew near
Stood near the door
Don't shoot until they come near
Getting near to the true explanation
Her mother is always near
The end draws nigh
The bullet didn't come close
Don't get too close to the fire
Near
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; `near' is sometimes used informally for `nearly' and `most' is sometimes used informally for `almost';
The job is (just) about done
The baby was almost asleep when the alarm sounded
We're almost finished
The car all but ran her down
He nearly fainted
Talked for nigh onto 2 hours
The recording is well-nigh perfect
Virtually all the parties signed the contract
I was near exhausted by the run
Most everyone agrees
Common Curiosities
How does "at" denote location differently than "near"?
At denotes a precise or specific location, unlike the general proximity implied by near.
How do "near" and "at" function differently in a sentence?
Near often sets a general vicinity, while at pinpoints an exact location or time.
What does "near" imply in terms of distance?
Near suggests being close but not exactly at a specific spot.
Can "near" be used for times as well as places?
Yes, near can refer to a close point in time, not just place.
Is "at" used in both physical and abstract contexts?
At is primarily used in physical contexts and specific times.
What are examples of "near" and "at" in use?
"I live near the park" vs. "Meet me at the entrance of the park."
Can "at" be used metaphorically like "near"?
At is rarely used metaphorically, unlike near.
How does "near" express proximity without exactness?
Near indicates being in the vicinity of something, without specifying how close precisely.
What kind of precision does "at" provide in description?
At provides a specific detail about location or time, offering exactness.
When should I use "near" instead of "at"?
Use near when referring to a general area or an approximate measure.
Is "near" suitable for use in formal writing?
Yes, near is suitable for both formal and informal contexts.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
