nearly touching

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "nearly touching" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe two objects or entities that are very close to each other but not quite in contact. Example: "The two buildings were nearly touching, separated only by a narrow alley."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The leaves grow about 5.5m up, nearly touching the roof".

Independent

Piles of boxes ran up high, nearly touching the ceiling.

The Guardian - Opinion

The two are nearly touching, separated by a distance 50 times smaller than the lasers themselves.

Princeton University

It hung upside down, the florets nearly touching the shelf below.

The New Yorker

As they do, the islands, which start out nearly touching each other, spread apart.

MIT Technology Review

— The smooth, rounded rock form fills the canvas, nearly touching the edges at either side.

The New Yorker

"A scream and a laugh are this close," Mr. Hanf said, his fingers nearly touching.

The New York Times

It shows a young couple dancing, bodies separate but heads nearly touching.

The New Yorker

With their faces nearly touching, Jeanne crinkles her nose and whispers, "Alo, Manman," then "Bye, Manman".

The New Yorker

Sometimes he gave me a ride home, his belly nearly touching the steering wheel.

The New York Times - Magazine

Two pairs of people are silhouetted against a bright background, their foreheads inclined toward one another, their noses nearly touching.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "nearly touching" to clearly and concisely describe objects or entities that are in close proximity but not making physical contact. This provides a precise image without ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "nearly touching" when you actually mean the objects are touching. "Nearly touching" implies a gap, however small, whereas 'touching' indicates direct contact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nearly touching" functions primarily as a descriptive adjective phrase. It modifies a noun by indicating the state of two or more entities being in close proximity but not making physical contact. Ludwig AI provides many examples of this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Academia

15%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "nearly touching" is a grammatically sound and versatile descriptive phrase used to convey proximity without contact. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage across various domains, particularly in News & Media. Alternatives like "almost touching" offer similar meanings. When using this phrase, ensure that the objects described are indeed separate and not in direct contact to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost touching

This alternative uses 'almost' instead of 'nearly', slightly emphasizing the lack of contact.

almost in contact

Directly states the condition of being close to physical contact.

close to touching

This phrase is more descriptive, explicitly stating the proximity in terms of closeness to the act of touching.

just short of touching

This phrase emphasizes the small difference that prevents contact.

in close proximity

This is a more formal way of saying "nearly touching", highlighting the nearness in space.

close enough to touch

Emphasizes the potential for contact, implying it could easily happen.

in the vicinity of touching

A more verbose alternative, focusing on the surrounding area rather than direct closeness.

a hair's breadth away from touching

Uses a figurative expression to highlight the minimal distance separating the objects.

about to touch

This phrase implies an imminent action, suggesting contact is likely to occur soon.

on the verge of touching

Similar to 'about to touch', this indicates an impending contact, with a slightly more dramatic tone.

FAQs

How can I use "nearly touching" in a sentence?

You can use "nearly touching" to describe objects that are close together but not quite in contact, such as "The branches were "nearly touching" but not intertwined".

What's the difference between "nearly touching" and "touching"?

"Nearly touching" implies that there is a small space between the objects, whereas "touching" means that they are in direct contact. The distinction is about the presence or absence of physical contact.

What can I say instead of "nearly touching"?

Alternatives include "almost touching", "close to touching", or "in close proximity", depending on the desired level of formality.

Is it correct to say "almost touching" instead of "nearly touching"?

Yes, "almost touching" is a valid and often interchangeable alternative to "nearly touching". Both phrases convey the idea of close proximity without physical contact.