What is next? Pronunciation and usage in English

next means . Learn how to pronounce and use next through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of next

nextadjective

/nɛkst/
Definition & pronunciation of next

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "next" in English. There are a couple of common pronunciations, and both are perfectly acceptable!

1. The Most Common Pronunciation (American English):

  • Sounds like: NEKS (like "necks")
  • Breakdown:
    • "ne" - Sounds like the "ne" in "pen" or "men"
    • "xt" - This is the tricky part! It's pronounced as a single "ks" sound. It's not "x" as in "taxi." Think of it like the "cks" in "bricks" or "necks."

2. The British Pronunciation:

  • Sounds like: Neks-t (with a brief pause between "neks" and "t")
  • Breakdown: Similar to the American pronunciation, but with a short pause between the syllables.

Here's a helpful audio resource to hear the differences:

Key Tip for the "xt" Sound: Imagine you're saying "necks" and then quickly adding a "t" at the end. That's the feeling of the sound.

To help me tailor the explanation even further, could you tell me:

  • Where are you from? (American, British, Australian, etc.) This will help me give you the most relevant pronunciation.

Usage and examples with the word next in English

Let's break down how to use the word "next" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word with several different functions! Here's a breakdown by category:

1. Indicating Sequence/Order (Most Common)

  • Following something in a series: This is the most frequent use.

    • "First, we bake the cake. Next, we frost it."
    • "The report is due on Monday. Next, it needs to be submitted to the manager."
    • "I’ll call you back next week."

  • In a list or steps:

    • “The instructions are: Next, add the flour.”
    • “Next on the agenda is the budget review.”

2. Referencing the Following Item/Person

  • Pointing out the next object in a line or group:

    • "He’s wearing a blue shirt and a black jacket. Next is a green one." (Meaning referring to the next person you're observing.)
    • "Put the book on the table, and next to it, place the vase."

  • Referring to the next person in a conversation/group:

    • “Sarah answered the question. Next, let’s hear from John.”
    • “Next, can I ask you a question about the project?” (Asking for a turn)

3. Indicating Time (Short-Term)

  • Referring to the immediately following time:
    • “Let’s meet next Tuesday.” (Meaning the Tuesday after the current one)
    • “I’ll see you next door.” (Referring to the neighboring doorway)

4. Expressing Anticipation/Looking Forward To

  • Expressing eagerness for something to happen:
    • “I’m excited for next summer.”
    • "What are you planning for next Christmas?"

5. As an Adverb (Less common, but important)

  • Referring to the following thing: This is a more formal usage.
    • "The speaker paused, looking at the audience next to him.” (Meaning the person to his immediate right.)
    • “He signaled next to her.” (Meaning he indicated to the person next to her.)

Important Notes & Nuances:

  • "Next" vs. "Afterward": "Next" generally implies a direct and immediate sequence, while "afterward" can be slightly more flexible and suggest a period of time after something else.

  • "Then" vs. "Next": Both indicate sequence, but “then” often implies a more logical or causal connection between events. “Next” is more purely chronological.

  • Contractions: "Next" is often contracted to "next'a" (especially in informal speech) or "nex't."

Let’s test your understanding! Could you give me a sentence using "next" in one of the ways we’ve discussed?

Synonyms for the word next

Idioms of the word next

better luck next time
(informal)used to encourage somebody who has not been successful at something
  • Never mind— better luck next time.
  • If you didn't win a prize, better luck next time.
from one day to the next
if a situation changes from one day to the next, it is uncertain and not likely to stay the same each day
  • I never know what to expect from one day to the next.
the next big thing
(informal)a person or thing that people think will be very popular or successful soon
  • She has been talked up as the next big thing in British tennis.
  • Everyone is trying to guess what the next big thing in street fashion is going to be.
the next man, woman, person, etc.
the average person
  • I can enjoy a joke as well as the next man, but this is going too far.
take something to the next level
to further improve or develop something that is already successful
  • He decided to move to New York to take his career to the next level.
  • We are taking web design to the next level.

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