Nearyearly

Nearyearly is a neologism that describes situations in which events, actions, or releases occur with a very small delay after a triggering event. The term highlights temporal proximity between cause and effect and is used in analytical, cultural, and technical discussions.

Origins of the word are informal; it functions as a portmanteau of nearly and early and has circulated primarily in online forums, advisory articles, and niche academic writing. There is no single authoritative definition or standard spelling, and variants such as neary-early or near-early have appeared in different communities.

Usage and contexts include software and product development, where nearyearly describes release cycles or feedback loops with minimal lag; in media criticism, where it denotes artists who publish material soon after teasing content; and in organizational theory, where it refers to rapid decision-making that minimizes postponement between planning and action.

Reception and status: The term remains informal and regional, with limited adoption beyond small communities. It has not been adopted into major dictionaries or formal terminology, and its interpretation varies by field.

See also: nearly, early, just-in-time, near real-time, lead time, fast-follow.