next

Meanings

1. 1
   adv

   at the time or occasion immediately following

   Next the doctor examined my back.

2. 2
   adj

   (of elected officers) elected but not yet serving

   our next president

3. 3
   adj

   Nearest in place or position, having nothing similar intervening; adjoining.

   The man in the next bunk kept me awake all night with his snoring.

4. 4
   adj

   Nearest in order, succession, or rank; immediately following (or sometimes preceding) in order.

   Please turn to the next page.

5. 5
   adj

   Nearest in relationship. (See also next of kin.)

   next friend

6. 6
   det

   Denotes the one immediately following the current or most recent one.

   Next week would be a good time to meet.

7. 7
   det

   Closest in the future, or closest but one if the closest is very soon; of days, sometimes thought to specifically refer to the instance closest to seven days (one week) in the future.

   The party is next Tuesday; that is, not tomorrow, but eight days from now.

8. 8
   adv

   In a time, place, rank or sequence closest or following.

   They live in the next closest house.

Etymology

From Middle English nexte, nexste, nixte, from Old English nīehsta, nīehste, etc., inflected forms of nīehst (“nearest, next”), superlative form of nēah (“nigh”) (the comparative would become near), corresponding to Proto-Germanic *nēhwist (“nearest, closest”); equivalent to nigh + -est. Cognate with Saterland Frisian naist (“next”), Dutch naast (“next to”), German nächster (“next”), Yiddish נעקסט (nekst, “next”), Danish næste (“next”), Elfdalian nest (“by, near”), Icelandic næst (“next”), Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk neste (“next”), Swedish näst, nästa (“next”), Persian نزد (nazd, “nea…