### Clue: Worker adopts formal attire, with star in the offing (8)
### Answer: ADJACENT 
 ### Explanation: Definition: in the offing
 ANT(a social insect possibly belonging to the worker caste) **containing**(adopts) [DJ(abbrev. for "dinner jacket";formal attire) **plus**(with) ACE(star;an excellent exponent) ].
I'm not sure of the synonymity between definition and answer. Chambers gives the former as "not far off" (in addition to "likely to happen soon"). Can this be taken to also mean "proximity in space", which is what the answer is?