Большой русско-английский словарь - было

1. гл.
3-е лицо ед. прош. вр. от быть
2. частица (почти, вот-вот) nearly, on the point of он было стал засыпать he had nearly fallen asleep, he was on the point of falling asleep, he was just going to fall asleep я чуть было не сказал I was on the point of saying, I nearly said чуть было не (very) nearly

was just going to, was just on the point of
прекратившийся ~ дождь вдруг снова полил the rain, which had been about to stop, suddenly came on even harder
он чуть ~ не ушёл he was just on the point of leaving
чуть ~ не very nearly
я чуть ~ не забыл I almost forgot