close in

close in

verb \ˈklōz-\

Definition of CLOSE IN

transitive verb

1

: to encircle closely and isolate

2

: to enshroud to such an extent as to preclude entrance or exit <the airport was closed in by the storm>

intransitive verb

1

: to gather in close all around with an oppressing or isolating effect <despair closed in on her>

2

: to approach to close quarters especially for an attack, raid, or arrest <the police closed in>

3

: to grow dark <the short November day was already closing in — Ellen Glasgow>

Examples of CLOSE IN

1. <the eagle closed in on its prey>
2. <with evening closing in we knew we had to find shelter fairly soon>

First Known Use of CLOSE IN

14th century

Related to CLOSE IN

Synonyms: belly up, close, approach, come up, draw on, near, nigh

Antonyms: back (up or away), recede, retire, retreat, withdraw

Related Words: arrive, attain, come, gain, hit, land, make, reach, show up, turn up, waltz up; creep up, sneak up; adjoin, border, touch, verge

Near Antonyms: clear out, depart, exit, go, leave, light out, pull out, quit, remove, run away, shove (off), take off, walk out

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with CLOSE IN

add-in, again, akin, all-in, backspin, bearskin, begin, Benin, blow in, Boleyn, bowfin, break-in, bring in, buckskin, build in, built-in, burn-in, butt in, calfskin, call in, call-in, capeskin, cash in, cave-in, chagrin, check in, check-in, chime in, chip in, clothespin, come in, coonskin, crankpin, cut in, deerskin, dig in, doeskin, do in, draw in, drive-in, drop in, duckpin, dustbin, edge in, fade-in, fall in, fill in, fill-in, foreskin, Fuxin, get in, give in, goatskin, go in, Guilin, hairpin, hand in, hang in, Harbin, has-been, headpin, herein, horn in, Jilin, kick in, kidskin, kingpin, lambskin, lay in, lead-in, lie-in, linchpin, live-in, lived-in, lobe-fin, locked-in, log in, look-in, love-in, moleskin, move in, munchkin, Nankin, ninepin, no-win, oilskin, phone-in, pigskin, pinyin, pitch in, plug-in, plugged-in, pull in, punch in, pushpin, put in, rub in, ruin, run in, run-in, saimin, scarfpin, scarfskin, sealskin, send in, set in, sharkskin, shear pin, sheepskin, shoo-in, shut-in, sidespin, sign in, sit-in, sleep in, sleep-in, sloe gin, snakeskin, sock in, stand in, stand-in, step in, stickpin, suck in, swanskin, swear in, swim fin, tail fin, tailspin, take in, tap-in, teach-in, tenpin, therein, tholepin, threadfin, throw in, tie-in, tiepin, tip-in, toe-in, Tonkin, topspin, trade in, trade-in, tune in, tuned-in, Turin, turn in, unpin, walk-in, wear thin, weigh in, wherein, whip in, wineskin, win-win, within, woolskin, work in, wrist pin, write-in, Yeltsin