Nearest vs. Next

Nearest vs. Next

Nearest is the superlative form of near. It means ‘the closest in distance or time’:

e.g. We need to buy some food. Where’s the nearest supermarket?
(There may be several supermarkets: which one is the shortest distance from here?)
Not: Where’s the next supermarket?

e.g. Feeling very sick, she took a taxi to the nearest hospital.

Next means ‘the first person or thing after the present one or after the one just mentioned’:

e.g. We had the addresses of three restaurants. The first one we went to was closed. The next one was open but full. Luckily, the last one had a table free.

Q. When is your yoga lesson?
Ans. Next Wednesday at five .