almost met

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "almost met" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where two parties were close to meeting but did not actually do so. Example: "We almost met at the conference, but our schedules didn't align."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

"We almost met him.

The New York Times - Sports

I even almost met Baldwin!

The New Yorker

But they almost met at Gate 35X.

The New York Times

The first specialty trip, in 2004, almost met with disaster.

The New York Times - Travel

In John O'Neill, bin Laden almost met his match.

The New York Times - Books

At one of them, he almost met Tom Arnold.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

It seemed like the right time to share a minor story about almost meeting Prince.

The New Yorker

Their lips almost meet, but then she turns her head and the image becomes absurd.

The New York Times

Outside the Palais is where Cannes almost meets the real world.

The Guardian - Film

Weird currents drag along the chasm of the Bosporus, where Europe and Asia almost meet, and the Black Sea tips into the Mediterranean.

The New York Times - Books

Furthermore, our method is robust against white noise and almost meets real-time requirements, which has great potentials in engineering applications.

Neurocomputing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context when using "almost met". It can imply missed opportunities, near disasters, or simply coincidental non-encounters. Ensure the tone matches the intended meaning.

Common error

Avoid using "almost met" when you mean to say that two people or entities did, in fact, meet. The phrase indicates a non-meeting, so using it incorrectly can cause confusion and misrepresent the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost met" functions as a modifier, typically describing a state of near-encounter or proximity without actual interaction. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. As shown by the examples from Ludwig, this phrase often qualifies a narrative description.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

16%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "almost met" effectively communicates a near-encounter or a missed connection. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and widely used, especially in narrative and descriptive contexts. Its versatility allows it to fit comfortably into both casual and formal settings. While phrases like "nearly encountered" or "barely missed each other" can serve as alternatives, "almost met" maintains a balance of simplicity and descriptive power, making it a common and reliable choice. It's a phrase that paints a picture of what nearly was, adding depth and intrigue to various narratives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Nearly encountered

Emphasizes the proximity in the encounter, differing slightly in tone.

Almost encountered each other

Adds explicit reciprocity to the near-meeting.

Barely missed each other

Highlights the narrow margin by which the meeting was avoided.

Came close to meeting

Focuses on the approach and nearness to the act of meeting.

Were on the verge of meeting

Implies an imminent meeting that did not materialize.

Almost crossed paths

Uses a metaphor of paths converging without intersection.

Were within reach of meeting

Emphasizes the attainability of the meeting, which was not achieved.

Came within an inch of meeting

Uses hyperbole to stress how close the parties were to meeting.

Narrowly avoided meeting

Highlights the avoidance of a meeting, rather than the attempt.

Came so close to an encounter

Emphasizes the high degree of proximity to an encounter.

FAQs

How can I use "almost met" in a sentence?

You can use "almost met" to describe a situation where two people were close to meeting but didn't actually connect. For instance, "We "almost met" at the conference, but our schedules conflicted".

What phrases are similar to "almost met"?

Similar phrases include "nearly encountered", "barely missed each other", or "came close to meeting". Each of these conveys the idea of proximity without a successful meeting.

Is it correct to say "almost met each other"?

Yes, "almost met each other" is grammatically correct. It emphasizes the reciprocal nature of the near-meeting experience, suggesting both parties were in proximity to one another.

What's the difference between "almost met" and "finally met"?

"Almost met" describes a situation where a meeting was close to happening but didn't occur, while "finally met" indicates that a meeting did happen, especially after a long time or multiple attempts.