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Definition of CLOSE

1

having little space between items or parts <the soldiers marched in close formation against the enemy>

Synonyms compact, crowded, dense, jam-packed, packed, serried, thick, tight

Related Words crammed, jammed, overcrowded; crushed, massed, pressed, squeezed, wall-to-wall; airtight, snug; compacted, compressed, condensed, congested; firm, hard, solid; impenetrable, impermeable, impervious

Near Antonyms commodious, roomy, spacious

Antonyms airy, loose, open, uncrowded

2

not being distant in time, space, or significance <my birthday is close to Christmas> <a shopping mall that is very close to the highway> <these words are close synonyms>

Synonyms close-up, immediate, near, nearby, neighboring, next-door, nigh, proximate

Related Words abutting, adjacent, adjoining, bordering, contiguous; approaching, coming, forthcoming, oncoming, upcoming; accessible, convenient, handy; close-in, hand-to-hand

Phrases at hand, to hand

Near Antonyms divorced, removed, separated

Antonyms away, deep, distant, far, faraway, far-off, remote

3

showing little difference in the standing of the competitors <the election results were so close that the votes had to be recounted>

Synonyms down-to-the-wire, hairbreadth, narrow, neck and neck, nip and tuck, tight

Related Words crowded

4

closely acquainted <a small wedding ceremony that was limited to close friends>

Synonyms bosom, buddy-buddy, chummy, close, especial, friendly, inseparable, intimate, inward, near, thick, tight

Related Words clannish, close-knit, tight-knit; affable, boon, companionable, convivial, cordial, genial, gracious, hearty; gregarious, sociable, social; comfortable, cozy, easy, snug; amicable, neighborly; confidential, secretive; adoring, affectionate, dear, devoted, fond, loving, tender, tenderhearted, warm

Near Antonyms aloof, antisocial, cold, cool, detached, distant, frosty, remote, reserved, standoffish, unfriendly, unsociable, withdrawn

Antonyms distant

5

given to keeping one's activities hidden from public observation or knowledge <she was as close as a stone when it came to talking about her love life>

Synonyms close, closemouthed, dark, reticent, tight-mouthed, uncommunicative

Related Words quiet, reserved, silent, taciturn, tight-lipped; discreet, prudent; clandestine, covert, furtive, hugger-mugger, secret, sneak, sneaky, stealthy, surreptitious, undercover, underhand, underhanded

Near Antonyms candid, frank, honest, out-front, up-front; blunt, outspoken, tactless

Antonyms communicative, open

6

giving or sharing as little as possible <the kind of folks who are very close when charity calls>

Synonyms cheap, chintzy, close, closefisted, mean, mingy, miserly, niggard, niggardly, parsimonious, penny-pinching, penurious, pinching, pinchpenny, spare, sparing, stinting, tight, tightfisted, uncharitable, ungenerous

Related Words careful, chary, conserving, economical, economizing, frugal, saving, scrimping, skimping, thrifty; acquisitive, avaricious, avid, coveting, covetous, desirous, grasping, greedy, hoggish, itchy, mercenary, rapacious, selfish, shabby, small, sordid; begrudging, envious, grudging, resentful; inhospitable

Near Antonyms altruistic, selfless, unselfish; extravagant, free, handsome, lavish, overgenerous, profuse; beneficent, benevolent, hospitable, humanitarian, philanthropic (also philanthropical); compassionate, good-hearted, greathearted, kindly, magnanimous, openhearted; thriftless, unthrifty; dissipating, frittering, prodigal, profligate, spendthrift, splurging, squandering, wasteful, wasting

Antonyms bounteous, bountiful, charitable, freehanded, generous, liberal, munificent, openhanded, unsparing, unstinting

7

lacking fresh air <a small room with an uncomfortably close atmosphere>

Synonyms breathless, close, stifling, suffocating

Related Words airless, unventilated; fuggy; heavy, oppressive, thick

Near Antonyms bracing, brisk, invigorating, refreshed, refreshing, restorative, reviving, sweet; ventilated

Antonyms airy, breezy, unstuffy

8

meeting the highest standard of accuracy <a close analysis of the box-office performance of action movies>

Synonyms accurate, close, delicate, exact, fine, hairline, mathematical, pinpoint, refined, rigorous, spot-on

Related Words correct, right, strict, true; definite, definitive; nice, subtle; careful, fastidious, finical, finicky, meticulous

Near Antonyms approximate, round; false, incorrect, untrue, wrong; careless, loose; indefinite, unclear, vague; doubtful, dubious, questionable, unreliable, untrustworthy

Antonyms coarse, imprecise, inaccurate, inexact, rough