1
: a photograph or movie shot taken at close range
2
: an intimate view or examination of something
close-up
2 of 2adverb or adjective
: at close range
Examples of close-up in a Sentence
Adverb or adjective
come over here and get a close-up view of the painting
Recent Examples on the Web
Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 29 Jan. 2026
Harnessing the camp of countless Drag Race acting challenges that came before her, Jujubee films a close-up reaction to a group of rowdy passengers reprimanding her, escalating the moment until her face is full-on twitching before a physical confrontation.
—Jillian Sederholm, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Jan. 2026
Tracey Harrington McCoy, Peoplemag, 20 Mar. 2023
She’s introduced in motion and in close-up, during a hallway scuffle shot in a documentary-like style with handheld camera, available light and jumpy editing.
—Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for close-up
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Noun
Neon-green digital readouts, dripping blood, three-ring binders full of technical instructions, and endless close-ups of the navigation system ground the movie in tactile realism but rarely ignite imagination.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 29 Jan. 2026
Harnessing the camp of countless Drag Race acting challenges that came before her, Jujubee films a close-up reaction to a group of rowdy passengers reprimanding her, escalating the moment until her face is full-on twitching before a physical confrontation.
—Jillian Sederholm, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Jan. 2026
Adverb or adjective
The first glimpse was a close-up shot of the tats, while the second showed the tattoo artist and Damon smiling post-ink session.
—Tracey Harrington McCoy, Peoplemag, 20 Mar. 2023
She’s introduced in motion and in close-up, during a hallway scuffle shot in a documentary-like style with handheld camera, available light and jumpy editing.
—Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for close-up
Cite this Entry
“Close-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/close-up. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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