nearly upon us

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of a sentence "nearly upon us" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is often used to indicate that something is approaching or about to happen soon. Example: The end of the school year is nearly upon us, and I can't wait for summer break.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

CHRISTMAS is nearly upon us.

The New York Times

The plot is nearly upon us!

The New Yorker

The 2014 World Cup in Brazil is nearly upon us.

Independent

The big kick-off is nearly upon us.

The Guardian - Sport

After all, the year 2000 was nearly upon us.

The Guardian

ELECTION Day is nearly upon us, but for many voters it has already come and gone.

The New York Times

So, training is finished and race start is nearly upon us.

Independent

December is nearly upon us, bringing the inevitable blizzard of best-album-of-the-year lists.

The Guardian - Music

The election's over, winter's nearly upon us, and the economy is bearish.

The New Yorker

AND FINALLY… With Fashion Week nearly upon us, the mayor has declared today Elie Tahari Day in the city.

The New York Times

The 2010/11 Ashes are nearly upon us as England look to retain the urn against Australia.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, replace it with "almost here" to be more concise or keep the length of your text shorter.

Common error

Avoid using "nearly upon us" too frequently in a single piece of writing. Overuse can make your writing sound repetitive and less impactful. Vary your language by using synonyms like "fast approaching" or "just around the corner".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nearly upon us" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun or event, indicating its imminent arrival. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage. Examples demonstrate its use in various contexts, from seasonal events to political occurrences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "nearly upon us" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to indicate the imminence of an event or time. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread acceptance in written English. Predominantly found in News & Media contexts, it conveys anticipation and a sense of drawing near. While alternatives like "almost here" exist for brevity, "nearly upon us" offers a more nuanced and formal tone, creating a sense of urgency or expectation. Be mindful of overuse to maintain the impact of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

imminent

This alternative is a single word that conveys the same meaning but is more formal.

fast approaching

This alternative emphasizes the speed of the arrival.

about to happen

This alternative is a more direct and literal way to express the idea.

almost here

This alternative is shorter and more informal.

close at hand

This alternative indicates something is readily available or about to occur.

just around the corner

This alternative is more casual and colloquial.

drawing near

This alternative is slightly more poetic or literary.

on the horizon

This alternative uses a metaphor to describe the imminent arrival.

in the offing

This alternative is a nautical term meaning likely to happen soon.

looming

This alternative suggests an impending event, often with a negative connotation.

FAQs

What does "nearly upon us" mean?

The phrase "nearly upon us" means something is very close to happening or arriving soon. It suggests that an event or time is imminent.

What can I say instead of "nearly upon us"?

You can use alternatives like "almost here", "fast approaching", or "just around the corner" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "almost upon us" instead of "nearly upon us"?

Yes, "almost upon us" is a grammatically correct and semantically similar alternative to "nearly upon us". Both phrases convey the idea of something being very close to happening.

Which is more formal, "nearly upon us" or "just around the corner"?

"Nearly upon us" is generally considered more formal than "just around the corner". The latter is more colloquial and suitable for informal contexts.