close 1 of 9

1
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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

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close

2 of 9

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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4
5

close

3 of 9

adverb

close

4 of 9

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 9

noun (2)

close (down)

6 of 9

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 9

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 9

noun (3)

close one's doors (to)

9 of 9

phrase

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
Charlotte and Raffi see these minor challenges—and their ability to work through them—as proof of how close all of the friends have become. Rhaina Cohen, The Atlantic, 11 May 2025 Ivanka Trump may live among us in Miami Beach, but don’t get too close. Madeleine Marr, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 May 2025
Verb
Gates for the Colonial Country Club open at 6:30 a.m. daily and close 30 minutes after play. Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 May 2025 The gap closed, and Wehrlein’s car ended up sideways. Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 22 May 2025
Adverb
Many thriving long-term couples maintain certain boundaries that, counterintuitively, bring them closer. Anna Pulley, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2025 In the first of Trier’s films to operate as a family portrait instead of a more focused individual profile, the Borg house will come to assume the gravity of a dying star that gives meaning to the constellation of people who are pulled ever closer towards its orbit. David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 21 May 2025
Noun
As Memorial Day approaches and National Military Appreciation Month comes to a close, here’s a timely fact: the largest private funder of veteran employment in the United States is a video game. Jennifer Maas, Variety, 22 May 2025 Haase, like Pollard, kept in contact with Vaughn after their days at KU came to a close. Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 22 May 2025
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
  • While expanding its enrollment, adding new programs and building new centers, students have complained of crowded housing and dining areas, parking shortages and some offerings that are stretched thin, such as services for immigrant students.
    Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2025
  • In crowded markets, differentiation often comes from the interface, not the engine.
    Abdo Riani, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
Adjective
  • Meanwhile, artists like Doja Cat, Lorde, Lana Del Rey, Lil Wayne, Miley Cyrus and A$AP Rocky are all expected to drop albums in the near future.
    Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 24 May 2025
  • Expect to hear more news about Rodgers in the near future.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 May 2025
Adjective
  • The Horned Frogs gave up two late runs in a narrow 2-1 loss to Arizona in the championship game of the Big 12 Tournament on Saturday night at Globe Life Field.
    Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 May 2025
  • The Formula 1 season moves to its most iconic venue this weekend, with the eighth round of the championship taking place around the narrow streets of Monaco.
    Dan Cancian, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
Adjective
  • The collective effect of their intimate, first-person narratives is that of a confessional, revealing the psyche of a country going through a traumatic change.
    The New Yorker, New Yorker, 2 June 2025
  • The rapper recognized the 30th anniversary of his In A Major Way sophomore album and performed a medley of fan-favorite records in the intimate setting.
    DeMicia Inman, VIBE.com, 2 June 2025
Adjective
  • While the Trump administration was silent on the details of the document, a New York Times report described it as merely a list of bullet points, not a full draft, citing four officials familiar with the negotiations.
    Zach LaChance, The Washington Examiner, 1 June 2025
  • Proenza Schouler leans toward a silent gesture with its mint green terry dress.
    Alex Sales, Glamour, 31 May 2025
Adjective
  • Watch out for slippery roads: Be extra careful during the first half hour after rain begins.
    Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 25 May 2025
  • To remove the paint from hinge mortises, remove the hinges and scrape away the paint using a 5-in-1 tool or a chisel, being careful not to cut into the wood itself.
    Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 May 2025
Adjective
  • Moore sprinted down the field in celebration of his game-saving play with 29 seconds left that gave UCLA an unexpectedly breathless 27-20 victory.
    Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2024
  • Jerry Coyne has a post up which critiques an extremely breathless review of a new book, Epigenetics Revolution.
    Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 24 Aug. 2011
Adjective
  • Forecasts will become less accurate in time, with people getting less lead time when inclement weather may impact their daily lives.
    Bryan Karrick, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 May 2025
  • The ultra-wide camera retains steadiness but produces video with more accurate colors.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 29 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Close.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/close. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

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