Nĕxt1, a.
a.; superl. of nigh. [A-S. nēxta, nyxta, nēsta, nēhsta, nyhsta, neáhsta, M. H. Ger. nāhest, nēhist, nāhist, nāhest, nāhst, nächst, nēst, N. H. Ger. nächst, D. naast, Sw. näste, Dan. näst.] 1. Nearest in place; having no object intervening between it and some other. *Her princely guest Was next her side; in order sat the rest. Dryden.* 2. Nearest in time; as, the next day or hour; the next day before or after Easter. None could tell whose turn should be the next. Gay.
- Adjoining in a series; immediately preceding or following in order.
- Nearest in degree, quality, rank, right, or relation; as, one man is next to another in excellence; one is next in kindred; one is next in rank or dignity.
☞ Next is usually followed by to before an object, but to is sometimes omitted, and next in such cases is considered by many grammarians as a preposition.