Dic: almost, nearly

almost, ADV 

ADV group, ADV before v | You use almost to indicate that something is not completely the case but is nearly the case. (= nearly)

• The couple had been dating for almost three years.     
• Storms have been hitting almost all of Britain recently.     
• The effect is almost impossible to describe.     
• The arrested man will almost certainly be kept at this police station.     
• He contracted Spanish flu, which almost killed him.

nearly, ADV 

1. ADV group, ADV before v | Nearly is used to indicate that something is not quite the case, or not completely the case. (= almost, practically)

• Goldsworth stared at me in silence for nearly twenty seconds.    
• Hunter knew nearly all of this already.     
• Several times Thorne nearly fell.    
• I nearly had a heart attack when she told me.    
• The beach was nearly empty.    
• They nearly always ate outside.     

2. ADV group, ADV before v | Nearly is used to indicate that something will soon be the case. (= almost)

• It was already nearly eight o'clock.    
• I was nearly asleep.    
• The voyage is nearly over.    
• You're nearly there.    
• I've nearly finished the words for your song.   

3. PHRASE : PHR adj/adv, PHR n | You use not nearly to emphasize that something is not the case. (= nowhere near)

• Father's flat in Paris wasn't nearly as grand as this.     
• Minerals in general are not nearly so well absorbed as other nutrients.    
• British car workers did not earn nearly enough money to buy the products they were turning out.

....... Cobuild