(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
"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"
in a close manner
"the two phenomena are intimately connected"
"the person most nearly concerned"
With great scrutiny; carefully.
"The inspector nearly examined every bolt on the bridge before signing off on its safety."
In plain English: Nearly means almost but not quite.
"We are nearly finished with our homework."
Usage: Use nearly to indicate that something is close to happening but has not yet occurred, such as saying it is nearly time to leave. Do not use it to mean carefully or with scrutiny, which is the incorrect interpretation provided in your context.
The word nearly comes from the combination of near and the suffix -ly. It entered English as a direct formation to describe something that is very close in degree or time.