close 1 of 8

Definition of closenext
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as in narrow
showing little difference in the standing of the competitors the election results were so close that the votes had to be recounted

Synonyms & Similar Words

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close

2 of 8

verb (1)

1
as in to shut
to position (something) so as to prevent passage through an opening be sure to close the gate when you leave

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in to close (down)
to stop the operations of the merchant will close the store if business doesn't improve

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3
as in to end
to bring (an event) to a natural or appropriate stopping point we'll close the assembly with the singing of our national anthem

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close

3 of 8

adverb

close

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noun (1)

as in courtyard
an open space wholly or partly enclosed (as by buildings or walls) a garden in a close at the center of the complex

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close

5 of 8

noun (2)

close (down)

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verb (2)

as in to close
to stop the operations of the coal mine was closed down in the 1930s

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close (off)

7 of 8

verb (3)

as in to guard
to disallow entry into (a place) by means of a physical barrier at the entry point museum officials closed off the west wing after the fire

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

closedown

8 of 8

noun (3)

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of close
Adjective
The newspaper said Qatari officials played an intermediary role in the discussions, citing Rodríguez’s close personal ties with Qatar’s ruling family. Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 27 Jan. 2026 For more complex relief options, the IRS may take a closer look at your financial picture, including income, necessary living expenses and assets, to determine whether relief applies. Roxanne Downer, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
The Boston Globe reports that the institution had previously tried to shrink its budget by paring back its hours and exhibition schedule, closing an entrance, and raising $40 million in cash reserves. News Desk, Artforum, 29 Jan. 2026 The Heat’s defense struggled to contain the Magic’s offense all night, as Orlando closed with 62 paint points. Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 29 Jan. 2026
Adverb
Meta Platforms is set to report earnings after the market close. Fred Imbert, CNBC, 25 Jan. 2026 The challenges have changed the nature of their work but have also brought them closer, Adamov explained. Svitlana Vlasova, CNN Money, 24 Jan. 2026
Noun
The soft-close handle in particular stood out—unlike other coolers whose handles fall to the ground, the Ninja’s stayed upright or slowly lowered. Melanie Fincher, Southern Living, 27 Jan. 2026 The firm also cut its price target to $90 from $120, implying nearly 6% downside from Tuesday's close. Sean Conlon,pia Singh, CNBC, 27 Jan. 2026
Noun
During the closedown period, the amount of sand taken from the beach will be lowered to a maximum of 240,000 tons a year from an average of almost 300,000 that state regulators say had been taken out over the past three decades. Jim Carlton, WSJ, 13 July 2017 See All Example Sentences for close
Recent Examples of Synonyms for close
Adjective
  • As a candidate, Klobuchar faced stories of disgruntled Senate staffers who described her as a difficult boss but also distinguished herself on crowded debate stages as a determined pragmatist.
    Bill Barrow, Fortune, 29 Jan. 2026
  • San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan has joined the crowded field of Democrats seeking to succeed Gavin Newsom as governor of California.
    Ted Johnson, Deadline, 29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • The patterns observed now may not hold even in the near future as models rapidly become more capable and avanced and as automation expands.
    Anisha Sircar, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
  • With the shot clock running down, Franklin passed the ball from the near mid-pool to Franklin positioned in front of the Beckman goal.
    Dan Albano, Oc Register, 23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • ClassPass, the fitness subscription service, illustrates how narrow the line can be between improving conversion and alienating users.
    Esade Business & Law School, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
  • Portland was able to build that narrow halftime lead behind a 33-15 advantage from three-point range.
    Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Both Blazy and Anderson, millennials with big brains, are yanking the fusty business of extraordinary clothes into the present – the former with a swell of empathy, and the other with a cerebral but intimate approach.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
  • Rebecca Loos, David Beckham's former assistant, is finding comfort in Brooklyn Beckham's explosive statement about the intimate details of their family feud.
    Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • The 55-acre lot, once a silent-era movie site and later home to productions like Gilligan’s Island and Seinfeld, will be returned to lenders led by Goldman following months of unsuccessful modification talks.
    Charlie Fink, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
  • The Clippers responded with a 10-0 run to open a 103-91 lead as Doncic went silent, finishing the night with just three points in the final quarter.
    Janis Carr, Oc Register, 23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Currently, the cheapest EVs in Europe sell for about twice that.
    Neil Winton, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
  • There has been a gradual decline in popularity of pricier, wooden furniture over years as manufacturers found cheaper alternatives to make tables, dressers, bed frames, desks, and more.
    Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • However, in comparison to the breathless enthusiasm of previous years, the talk was centered firmly on value.
    Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
  • Joseph Kosinski’s big, fun, breathless racing movie, which also got into best editing, sound, and visual effects—proof that no matter how international and high-brow the Academy gets, crowd-pleasing blockbusters never go out of fashion.
    Radhika Seth, Vogue, 22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • The key is to start where friction is highest, whether that’s customer responses, proposals, first-pass marketing copy or product listings, and introduce a simple review checklist that defines what must be accurate, what must never be claimed, and what requires human sign-off.
    Alison Coleman, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
  • As more and more business teams incorporate LLMs into their daily workflows, responses generated must be accurate and reliable.
    Connie Etemadi, Miami Herald, 28 Jan. 2026

Cite this Entry

“Close.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/close. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.

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