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Nearest or next?

Nearest is the superlative form of near. It means ‘the closest in distance or time’:

  • We need to buy some food. Where’s the nearest supermarket? (There may be several supermarkets: which one is the shortest distance from here?)
  • Not: Where’s the next supermarket?
  • Feeling very sick, she took a taxi to the nearest hospital.

Next means ‘the first person or thing after the present one or after the one just mentioned’:

  • We had the addresses of three restaurants. The first one we went to was closed. The next one was open but full. Luckily, the last one had a table free.
  • A: When is your yoga lesson?
  • B: Next Wednesday at five.
See also
  • Next