"the job is (just) about done"
"the baby was almost asleep when the alarm sounded"
"we're almost finished"
"the car all but ran her down"
"he nearly fainted"
"talked for nigh onto 2 hours"
"the recording is well-nigh perfect"
"virtually all the parties signed the contract"
"I was near exhausted by the run"
"most everyone agrees"
It's nearly ten o'clock. (= perhaps 9.45)
It's almost ten o'clock. (= perhaps 9.57)
Jake is almost like a father to me.