close the gap
idiom
: to reduce or eliminate a difference between two people, groups, or things
—often + between
We hope to close the gap between well-funded suburban schools and the struggling schools in poorer communities.
Examples of close the gap in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Elder said the snowpack deficits are so large that even several feet of snowfall from a winter storm would only begin to close the gap.
—
Spencer Wilson, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
Looking at the expenditures would help the district close the gap the most, Bridges said.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2026
While Netflix is still dominant, its streaming rivals made significant strides in 2025 to close the gap.
—Andrew Wallenstein, Variety, 30 Jan. 2026
That production has allowed Knueppel to close the gap in the running for Rookie of the Year.
—Dallas Morning News, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for close the gap
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Spencer Wilson, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
Looking at the expenditures would help the district close the gap the most, Bridges said.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2026
While Netflix is still dominant, its streaming rivals made significant strides in 2025 to close the gap.
—Andrew Wallenstein, Variety, 30 Jan. 2026
That production has allowed Knueppel to close the gap in the running for Rookie of the Year.
—Dallas Morning News, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for close the gap
Cite this Entry
“Close the gap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/close%20the%20gap. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
