almost made it

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "almost made it" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express that someone or something nearly achieved a goal or reached a destination but ultimately did not succeed. Example: "I was running late for the meeting and almost made it on time, but the traffic was too heavy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We had ALMOST made it an entire school-year without having to take a child to the Emergency Room... almost.

Huffington Post

He almost made it.

The New York Times

Davis almost made it past midnight.

The New Yorker

This one almost made it.

The New York Times - Food

"We've almost made it home alive".

The New Yorker

Watson almost made it even more memorable.

The New York Times - Sports

He almost made it to the finish line.

The New York Times

Hungary's Jews almost made it through the inferno.

The Economist

It's almost made it like three or four times.

The New York Times

Dear Papa you almost made it to your 96th birthday.

The New York Times

Craig Forsyth almost made it five but his shot went just wide.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "almost made it" to convey a sense of near success, often highlighting the effort involved and the disappointment of just missing the goal. It adds a layer of narrative tension to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "almost made it" when referring to precise distances or measurements. It's more appropriate for abstract achievements or goals rather than saying something like "He almost made it 10 feet" when you should say "He came within 10 feet."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost made it" functions as an idiomatic expression indicating near success. Ludwig AI confirms this, providing numerous examples across diverse contexts showing its versatility. It typically acts as a verbal phrase modifying a subject's action or state.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

7%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "almost made it" is a common and versatile expression used to describe situations where someone or something nearly achieved a goal but ultimately fell short. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts, particularly in News & Media. While generally neutral to informal, it's best suited for conveying near success and adding narrative tension, rather than precise measurements. Alternatives such as "nearly achieved it" or "came close to succeeding" can be used for slight variations in emphasis. When writing, avoid using "almost made it" with concrete distances and remember that it implies a sense of disappointment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost succeeded

This is a more direct and simple alternative, focusing on the near success.

nearly achieved it

This alternative focuses on the achievement aspect, emphasizing that success was very close.

fell just short

This concisely describes the failure to reach a target by a small margin.

came close to succeeding

This phrase highlights the attempt and the proximity to success.

narrowly missed it

This emphasizes the failure to achieve the goal, despite being close.

virtually accomplished it

This stresses the high degree of completion that was reached.

just about managed it

This suggests a narrow margin of success, implying difficulty.

was on the verge of success

This alternative highlights the imminence of success before an eventual failure.

barely pulled it off

This indicates a last-minute or very difficult success.

came within inches of victory

This is more dramatic, emphasizing how little was needed to win.

FAQs

How can I use "almost made it" in a sentence?

You can use "almost made it" to describe a situation where someone or something narrowly failed to achieve a goal. For example, "She "almost made it" to the finish line, but tripped right before the end".

What are some alternatives to "almost made it"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "nearly achieved it", "came close to succeeding", or "just about managed it".

Is "almost made it" formal or informal?

"Almost made it" is generally considered informal and is suitable for everyday conversation and writing. In more formal contexts, you might prefer a phrase like "nearly succeeded".

What does "almost made it" imply?

"Almost made it" implies that someone or something came very close to achieving a desired outcome but ultimately fell short. It often carries a sense of disappointment or frustration.