1
as in to end
to bring (an event) to a natural or appropriate stopping point
the team closed out the season with major losses
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to exclude
to prevent the participation, consideration, or inclusion of
don't assume an attitude that closes out any possibility of a compromise
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of close out
Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2026
Those are two of the acts set to close out the festival on Sunday.
—Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 23 May 2026
Devon Henderson, New York Times, 4 May 2026
Don’t sleep on (pun intended) this $25 closeout bedding find.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for close out
Verb
Both seniors are extremely busy, closing out their high school careers.
—Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2026
Those are two of the acts set to close out the festival on Sunday.
—Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 23 May 2026
Noun
Brown showed a third-quarter clip in which the 6-foot-6, 223-pound guard attempted to guard the 7-foot, 270-pound center in the post, unsuccessfully, as Embiid powered through for 2 of his 34 points, to go along with 12 rebounds, in the closeout performance.
—Devon Henderson, New York Times, 4 May 2026
Don’t sleep on (pun intended) this $25 closeout bedding find.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for close out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for close out
Verb
-
All of them fought unsuccessfully to end the oversight arrangement — repeatedly coming close, only to watch the department once again become embroiled in scandal.—
Jakob Rodgers,
Mercury News,
28 May 2026
-
The Emmy-winning comedy, which ends Thursday after five seasons on HBO Max, had a stressful and thrilling penultimate episode.—
Emily Yahr,
Washington Post,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
The poll excluded areas where Hezbollah is most entrenched, and among Lebanese Shiites—the community that forms the bedrock of the group’s support and has borne much of the cost of the war—only a minority agreed.—
Euan Ward,
New Yorker,
29 May 2026
-
The discussions for now exclude Canada.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
But the team could not shut the door on the Stags (35-14), who staved off elimination and delayed an early claim to a coveted berth in the College World Series, which begins May 28 at Classic Park in Eastlake, Ohio.—
Edward Lee,
Baltimore Sun,
23 May 2026
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During the domestic crackdown that started that year, the Kremlin shut popular news outlets, banned opposition groups, and imprisoned hundreds of talented young Russians.—
Anna Nemtsova,
Time,
23 May 2026
Noun
-
Rush holds a Top Secret/Secure Compartmented Information clearance, according to the FBI affidavit.—
Bill Chappell,
NPR,
28 May 2026
-
Several other Massachusetts communities also recently received clearance to hold World Cup watch parties.—
Matt Schooley,
CBS News,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
The Cowboys finished at 7-9-1 during Schottenheimer's first year at the helm, falling short of advancing to the playoffs.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
26 May 2026
-
The 20-year-old finished the game with 5 points and and two assists in five minutes.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
His family continues to push for the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, a federal bill that would ban chokeholds and restrict no-knock warrants in federal cases, while encouraging similar changes nationwide.—
Wendy Grossman Kantor,
PEOPLE,
25 May 2026
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On Thursday, another treatment center, in the town of Rwampara, was burned down after family members were banned from retrieving the body of a man suspected to have died of Ebola.—
Jean-Yves Kamale,
Los Angeles Times,
25 May 2026
Verb
-
The rankings were intended to provide the City Council with possible scenarios to consider when making budget cuts to help close a $146 million deficit projected for the 2026-27 fiscal year, which begins July 1.—
Ashley Mackin Solomon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 May 2026
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The space is cleverly carved into distinct zones to protect your peace—snag a cabana away from the kid splash-zone but still close enough to the bar's energy.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
Their fans spent the holiday weekend pushing back against the idea that the franchise would never be more than a bargain option amid rising prices all around them.—
Joaquin Ruiz,
Los Angeles Times,
25 May 2026
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Both candidates expressed frustration with trial penalties, but emphasized that plea bargains are necessary to keep the justice system afloat.—
Rafael Perez,
Daily News,
25 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Close out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/close%20out. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
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