come close

phrase

1

: to almost do something

We didn't win, but we came close.

—often + to

The band came very close to breaking up.

We came close to winning the championship this season.

2

: to be similar to something or as good as expected

She said they taste just like real hot dogs, but they don't even come close (to the real thing).

Examples of come close in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In my lifetime, Republicans have never come close to that big of a popular-vote win in a midterm. — Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 13 Nov. 2026

But none come close to the magnitude and significance of Huang’s ouster. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 12 Nov. 2026

Crooked Rain sold decently, too, spending a respectable four weeks on the Billboard 200, where Slanted hadn’t even come close. — Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 10 Nov. 2026

Contrary to how operators track performance for other forms of betting like traditional sportsbooks, prediction market notional volume does not come close to representing the amount of money retail users are risking. — Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 6 Nov. 2026

Rhymes for come close

• adios
• adipose
• amylose
• bellicose
• cellulose
• centavos
• comatose
• diagnose
• grandiose
• granulose
• levulose
• overdose