Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Immediately following in time or sequence: Refers to the thing or person that comes directly after the current or specified one in order.
   • Nearest in space or position: Refers to the thing or person that is closest or immediately adjoining without anything in between.

2. Adverb:

   • Immediately afterwards in time or order: Indicates the action or event that happens directly following the current one.
   • On the first subsequent occasion: Used to refer to the first time something happens after the present moment.

3. Noun:

   • The person or thing that comes immediately after: Used to refer to the following person in a line or the subsequent item in a series.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:

  • She will return next week. (Referring to the week immediately following the current one.)
  • He lives in the next house. (Referring to the house immediately adjacent.)
  • Please turn to the next page. (Referring to the page that follows the current one.)

• Adverb:

  • What happened next? (Asking about the event that occurred immediately afterwards.)
  • I'll see you next time. (Referring to the first subsequent meeting occasion.)

• Noun:

  • You are next in line. (You are the person immediately following the current one.)
  • Next, please!** (A call for the following person to come forward.)

Advanced Usage

• "Next to" (prepositional phrase):

  • Adjacent to, beside: She sat next to me. (She sat in the seat immediately beside mine.)
  • Almost, virtually: It's next to impossible. (It is almost impossible.)

• "As good as the next person" (idiomatic expression): To be as competent or capable as the average person.

  • I can cook as good as the next person. (My cooking ability is average or typical.)

• "Next of kin" (noun phrase): A person's closest living relative or relatives.

  • Please list your next of kin on the form. (List your closest family members.)

Variants and Related Words

• Next door (adjective/adverb): In or to the adjacent house or building.

  • My next-door neighbor is very friendly. (The person living in the house immediately beside mine.)

• Upcoming (adjective): About to happen; forthcoming. (A synonym for 'next' when referring to future events.)

  • The upcoming meeting is crucial. (The meeting that will happen soon.)

Synonyms

• Following: Coming after or as a result of.
• Subsequent: Occurring or coming later or after.
• Adjacent: Next to or adjoining something else.
• Succeeding: Coming after something in time; subsequent.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Come next: To follow in sequence.

  • After the introduction, the main speaker came next. (The main speaker followed the introduction.)

• Get next to (someone) (informal): To become friendly with or gain the favor of someone.

  • He's trying to get next to the new manager. (He is trying to become friendly with the new manager.)

Related Idioms

• Next to nothing: A very small amount; almost nothing.

  • I know next to nothing about quantum physics. (I know almost nothing about it.)

• The next best thing: The best alternative available when the ideal is not possible.

  • If we can't get tickets, watching it on TV is the next best thing. (It's the best available alternative.)

• What next?: An expression of surprise or exasperation about what further surprising or annoying thing could happen.

  • First the car broke down, and now it's raining. What next? (What other problem will occur?)

Adjective

1. (of elected officers) elected but not yet serving
   • our next president
2. nearest in space or position; immediately adjoining without intervening space
   • had adjacent rooms
   • in the next room
   • the person sitting next to me
   • our rooms were side by side
3. immediately following in time or order
   • the following day
   • next in line
   • the next president
   • the next item on the list

Adverb

1. at the time or occasion immediately following
   • next the doctor examined his back