What does près in French mean?

What is the meaning of the word près in French? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use près in French.

The word près in French means nearby, not far off, close to, near, close to, almost, nearly, close to, close to, almost, nearly, almost, nearly, to, beating, meadow, pre-, with the exception that, except that, except, except that, by a couple of minutes, down to the minute, exactly, down to the exact number, more or less, pretty much, around about, by very little, around, about, roughly the same, just about all, [duration] + earlier and, more or less, getting on for, more or less, getting on for, slapdash, slap-dash, as closely as possible to, upwind, calculated down to the last penny, worked out down to the last penny, cuckoo flower, close up, closely, from near and far, directly or indirectly, meet expectations as fully as possible, be close to doing, be tight-fisted, be stingy, examine closely, inspect closely, be neither here nor there, not be likely to do, not be about to do, it's not that important, it's not that big a deal, we have a little time on our hands, we're not in that much of a hurry, stare death in the face, nearby, tight-fisted, frugally, thriftily, body-hugging, close shave, clean shave, close-shaven, look at closely, look closely at, meadowsweet, follow closely, monitor, watch closely, watch carefully, close by, nearby, right next to, quite close to doing, red clover, live close to nature. To learn more, please see the details below.

Listen to pronunciation

Meaning of the word près

nearby

adverbe (dans l'espace)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")

Je peux rentrer à pied : j'habite près.

I can walk home; I live near here.

not far off

adverbe (dans le temps)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Pâques n'est pas encore très près, nous avons le temps d'acheter des œufs.

Easter is still some time away; we've got time to buy some eggs.

close to, near

préposition (dans l'espace)

(preposition: Relates noun or pronoun to another element of sentence--for example, "a picture of John," "She walked from my house to yours.")

Je peux rentrer à pied : j'habite près d'ici. L'hôtel est près de la gare, tu peux t'y rendre à pied.

I can walk home; I live near here. The hotel is close to the station; you can walk there.

close to

préposition (dans le temps)

(preposition: Relates noun or pronoun to another element of sentence--for example, "a picture of John," "She walked from my house to yours.")

Nous sommes près de mon anniversaire.

We are close to my birthday.

almost, nearly

(sur le point de faire [qch])

(preposition: Relates noun or pronoun to another element of sentence--for example, "a picture of John," "She walked from my house to yours.")

Nous étions près d'arriver quand il y eut un accident. La situation économique est mauvaise et avec cette nouvelle crise, ce n'est pas près de s'améliorer.

The economic situation is bad and, with this new crisis, it's nowhere near improving.

close to

préposition (proche)

(preposition: Relates noun or pronoun to another element of sentence--for example, "a picture of John," "She walked from my house to yours.")

Tous les concurrents sont très près les uns des autres.

All of the competitors are very close to each other.

close to

préposition (étroitement lié)

Rémi est resté près de sa sœur.

He stayed close to his sister.

almost, nearly

préposition (somme : presque) (less)

(preposition: Relates noun or pronoun to another element of sentence--for example, "a picture of John," "She walked from my house to yours.")

Cette montre coûte près de cent euros.

This watch costs almost 100 euros.

almost, nearly

préposition (heure) (before)

(preposition: Relates noun or pronoun to another element of sentence--for example, "a picture of John," "She walked from my house to yours.")

Il est près de minuit.

It is almost midnight.

to

adverbe (soutenu (auprès de)

(preposition: Relates noun or pronoun to another element of sentence--for example, "a picture of John," "She walked from my house to yours.")

Bernard est expert graphologique près le tribunal d'instance. La villa Bonaparte est l'ambassade de France près le Saint-Siège.

Bernard is a graphology expert for the county court.

beating

nom masculin (allure de navigation) (Nautical)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

meadow

nom masculin (champ)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Les abeilles butinent les fleurs des prés.

Bees gather pollen from meadow flowers.

pre-

préfix (marque l'antériorité)

(prefix: Added to front of word stem--for example, unsaid = un+said.)

La majorité est un des prérequis pour pouvoir voter.

Reaching the age of majority is a prerequisite to be able to vote.

with the exception that, except that

locution conjonction (oui mais)

except, except that

locution adverbiale (sauf que)

(conjunction: Connects words, clauses, and sentences--for example, "and," "but," "because," "in order that.")

Ce n'est pas faux, à cela près qu'elle a omis de préciser certaines choses.

by a couple of minutes

locution adverbiale (de très peu)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

J'ai raté mon train à deux minutes près !

I missed my train by a couple of minutes.

down to the minute

locution adverbiale (avec moins de 60 secondes d'écart)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

ⓘCette phrase n'est pas une traduction de la phrase originale. Write the time down to the minute.

exactly

locution adverbiale (figuré (textuellement)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")

Ce texte a été retranscrit à la virgule près.

down to the exact number

locution adverbiale (au nombre précis)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

more or less, pretty much, around about

locution adverbiale (quasiment, avec peu de différence)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Le bilan est à peu de choses près le même que celui de l'année dernière.

by very little

locution adverbiale (très proche du but)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Benjamin a échoué à l'examen à peu de choses près.

around, about

locution adverbiale (environ)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")

D'ici à Paris, il y a à peu près 45 km.

From here to Paris is about 45 km.

roughly the same

locution adverbiale (presque pareil)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

just about all

locution adverbiale (presque tout)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")

C'est à peu près tout ce que je sais de cette histoire.

[duration] + earlier and

locution adverbiale (tant de temps plus tôt)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

À 10 minutes près, tu le croisais !

Ten minutes earlier and you would have run into him!

more or less, getting on for

locution adverbiale (presque)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Cela coûte 50 euros à quelque chose près.

more or less, getting on for

locution adverbiale (environ, presque)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

La célérité de la lumière est à quelque chose près de 300.000 kilomètres par secondes.

slapdash, slap-dash

nom masculin (approximation, travail mal terminé) (informal)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

Cet employé ne termine jamais les choses, c'est toujours de l'à-peu-près !

That employee never finishes anything; it's always slapdash.

as closely as possible to

locution adverbiale (très près de [qch])

upwind

locution adverbiale (en remontant le vent) (nautical)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")

Un voilier peut remonter au vent en près serré ou au près bon plein.

calculated down to the last penny, worked out down to the last penny

locution adjectivale (calculé précisément)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

cuckoo flower

nom masculin (variété de cresson)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

close up

locution adverbiale (en étant près)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")

Les myopes voient mal de loin, mais bien de près.

Short-sighted people cannot see things well from a distance, but can see them fine when close up.

closely

locution adverbiale (figuré (avec attention)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")

Je regarderai ce rapport de près une fois arrivé au bureau.

You can count on us to check this closely.

from near and far

locution adverbiale (figuré (quel que soit le cas)

directly or indirectly

locution adverbiale (figuré (quel que soit le cas)

meet expectations as fully as possible

locution verbale (répondre aux exigences de [qqn])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

be close to doing

locution verbale (être sur le point de)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Tu es près de trouver la solution mais il faut encore que tu cherches un peu.

be tight-fisted, be stingy

locution verbale (être radin)

Ça m'étonnerait qu'il t'invite à manger, il est près de ses sous.

examine closely, inspect closely

locution verbale (analyser attentivement)

be neither here nor there

locution verbale (considérer [qch] comme un détail)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

After all I've been through, another mishap won't make much difference.

not be likely to do

locution verbale (être loin d'arriver à [qch])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Si tu continues à faire la fête tous les soirs, tu n'es pas près de réussir tes examens.

If you carry on partying every night, you're not likely to pass your exams.

not be about to do

locution verbale (tout faire pour éviter de)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Ce séjour était éprouvant, je ne suis pas près d'y retourner.

That stay was an ordeal; I'm not about to repeat it.

it's not that important, it's not that big a deal

(la différence sera minime)

we have a little time on our hands, we're not in that much of a hurry

locution verbale (nous avons une petite marge)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

stare death in the face

locution verbale (faillir mourir)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

nearby

locution adverbiale (non loin)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")

tight-fisted

locution verbale (être radin) (figurative, informal)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

Ça m'étonnerait que Charlotte t'invite à manger, elle est près de ses sous.

frugally, thriftily

locution adverbiale (de manière économe)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")

Mes voisins vivent près de leurs sous.

body-hugging

locution adjectivale (en contact avec la peau)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

close shave, clean shave

nom masculin (rasage soigné)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

close-shaven

locution adjectivale (fraîchement rasé) (man, facial hair)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

look at closely, look closely at

locution verbale (examiner [qch] en détail)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

meadowsweet

nom féminin (plante : spirée) (wild flower)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

« Reine-des-prés » est le nom commun des spirées.

follow closely, monitor

locution verbale (surveiller attentivement [qch])

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

watch closely, watch carefully

locution verbale (contrôler attentivement, en détail)

close by, nearby

locution adverbiale (juste à côté)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")

Mon bureau est en plein centre-ville et moi, j'habite tout près.

right next to

(juste à côté de) (location)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Élise habite tout près de la piscine.

quite close to doing

(sur le point de faire [qch])

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Ce chercheur est tout près de trouver un vaccin efficace contre cette maladie.

red clover

nom masculin (variété fourragère de trèfle)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

On retrouve le trèfle violet dans tous les prés.

live close to nature

locution verbale (vivre simplement)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Robinson Crusoé vivait près de la nature.

Let's learn French

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