was nearing

USAGE SUMMARY

"was nearing" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It can be used to describe an action or event that is approaching or becoming close to happening. Here is an example: The end of the semester was nearing, and I still had several assignments to complete.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was nearing midnight.

The New Yorker

He was nearing….

The New Yorker

It was nearing 2 a.m.

The New York Times - Sports

It was nearing midnight on Sept. 13.

The New York Times

But that era was nearing an end.

The New York Times

But the end was nearing.

The New York Times - Sports

Fats Domino was nearing breakthrough.

The Guardian - Music

It was nearing 7 p.m.

The New York Times - Sports

By now it was nearing midnight.

The New York Times - Magazine

The train was nearing its final stop.

The New York Times

IT WAS nearing midnight when Pat Cox snapped.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was nearing" to describe gradual approach or the state of becoming close to a specific condition, event, or time. Ensure the context clearly indicates what is being approached.

Common error

Avoid constructing sentences where "was nearing" leads to a passive and unclear meaning. Ensure the subject actively contributes to the approach being described. For instance, instead of "The deadline was nearing to the project", specify "The team was nearing the deadline for the project".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was nearing" functions as a progressive verb phrase, indicating an action in progress in the past. Ludwig examples show it describing the state of something approaching a certain point in time, condition or completion.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Wiki

6%

Science

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was nearing" is a versatile verb phrase used to describe the gradual approach of something, whether it's a time, event, or condition. As demonstrated by Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically sound and commonly found in various contexts, particularly in news and media. To use it effectively, ensure the subject actively contributes to the approaching action and avoid passive constructions. Remember that "was nearing" sets the scene and builds anticipation. Alternatives like "was approaching" or "was drawing close" can be used to add variety to your writing. By understanding its function, purpose, and register, you can confidently incorporate "was nearing" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was approaching

Replaces "nearing" with "approaching", focusing on the act of coming closer.

was drawing close

Substitutes "nearing" with "drawing close", emphasizing the gradual reduction of distance.

was getting closer

Replaces "nearing" with "getting closer", highlighting the progressive reduction in separation.

was on the verge of

Replaces "nearing" with "on the verge of", indicating imminence.

was about to reach

Substitutes "nearing" with "about to reach", underscoring the imminent attainment of a specific state or goal.

was coming up to

Replaces "nearing" with "coming up to", focusing on the act of almost arriving at a point.

was advancing toward

Substitutes "nearing" with "advancing toward", stressing forward movement to a destination.

was progressing toward

Replaces "nearing" with "progressing toward", emphasizing the gradual development to a goal.

was edging towards

Substitutes "nearing" with "edging towards", highlighting a slow and cautious progression.

was moving closer to

Replaces "nearing" with "moving closer to", emphasizing movement to reduce distance.

FAQs

How can I use "was nearing" in a sentence?

You can use "was nearing" to describe something that is approaching a certain point in time, a specific location, or a particular state. For instance, "The train "was nearing the station"" or "The project "was nearing completion"".

What can I say instead of "was nearing"?

You can use alternatives like "was approaching", "was drawing close", or "was getting closer" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "is nearing" instead of "was nearing"?

Yes, both are correct, but they indicate different tenses. "Was nearing" indicates something that was approaching in the past, while "is nearing" indicates something that is approaching in the present. For example, "The end of the year "is nearing"".

What is the difference between "was nearing" and "was nearly"?

"Was nearing" indicates an approaching state or condition, while "was nearly" indicates that something almost happened or almost reached a certain point. For instance, "The storm "was nearing" the coast" versus "The deal "was nearly complete"".