close in (on)

verb

Definition of close in (on)next
as in to approach

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for close in (on)
  1. approach
  2. focus
  3. near
  4. converge
Verb
  • According to the arrest report, the incident happened about a half-mile off Fisher Island after Simpson's vessel approached another boat at a high rate of speed.
    — Sergio Candido, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026
  • During his freshman year of high school, Butker’s tuba-playing partner, the varsity kicker, approached Butker, originally a soccer player, during symphonic band class about taking on the kicking duties for the football team the next year.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of approach
Verb
  • The project, which involves a partnership between the University of Miami Rosenstiel School and other researchers, focuses on collecting floating coral egg and sperm bundles.
    — Joan Murray, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Andrew’s research now largely focuses on how brain function is associated with various mental states—in particular, religious and mystical experiences.
    — Big Think, Big Think, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of focus
Verb
  • McKenzie was at Chrysler when the auto industry neared collapse during the Great Recession.
    — Sam Gringlas, NPR, 1 Aug. 2026
  • But as the trade deadline nears, his bat remains the loudest.
    — Dan Hayes, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of near
Verb
  • City and country converge at this Oklahoma City carriage house, which can sleep up to four guests.
    — Kelsey Mulvey, Vogue, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Pitchfork Festival London has announced its second wave of artists, who will converge on the city for a week this November.
    — Pitchfork, Pitchfork, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of converge
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.

Browse Nearby Words

close-in
close in (on)
close-knit
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Close in (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/close%20in%20%28on%29. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of torpor

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

How long is a jiffy?
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All