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
Relevance
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
Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026
Keller handles Odessa Permian in sweep Senior pitcher Cole Koeninger, a Tennessee signee, helped lead Keller to a close out 9-1 win over Odessa Permian in Game 2 of their Class 6A Division I area-round series on Friday night at Lubbock Memorial High School.
—Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 May 2026
CBS News, 1 May 2026
Ahead, shop more of Wayfair’s closeout deals.
—Jacqueline Tempera, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for close out
Verb
But the Rockets fought back to make the series 3-2 before the Lakers closed out the series.
—Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026
Keller handles Odessa Permian in sweep Senior pitcher Cole Koeninger, a Tennessee signee, helped lead Keller to a close out 9-1 win over Odessa Permian in Game 2 of their Class 6A Division I area-round series on Friday night at Lubbock Memorial High School.
—Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 May 2026
Noun
Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane each scored 17 for Orlando, which is now 0-2 in closeout opportunities in this series.
—CBS News, 1 May 2026
Ahead, shop more of Wayfair’s closeout deals.
—Jacqueline Tempera, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for close out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for close out
Verb
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Detroit catcher Dylan Dinger’s throw wasn’t in time to get Bichette, but shortstop Zach Short threw home to get Benge, ending the inning with the game still tied.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
14 May 2026
-
Seiya Suzuki, up for the second time with two on, struck out to end the eighth.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
Verb
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For example, a West Virginia law passed in early 2025 gives teachers more power to exclude disruptive students from their classrooms.—
Stacker,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
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Products governed by a trade deal with Canada and Mexico also were excluded.—
Zac Anderson,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Since Iran closed the strait in late February following the outbreak of hostilities, tankers have bottlenecked across the region as the vital oil chokepoint remains largely shut.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
10 May 2026
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Dodgers left-hander Justin Wrobleski had a chance to slam the door shut on the Braves’ second-inning rally.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
Noun
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The team won 64% of its duels overall and 81% of aerial duels while making more tackles, interceptions, clearances and more.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
6 May 2026
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Mac Allister got there first, but his scuffed clearance only fell to Mainoo, who calmly passed the ball into the net.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
Verb
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Northwestern recruit Nolan Ramoley went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI for Brother Rice (21-9, 11-2), while Purdue Northwest commit Treylan Webster finished 2-for-4 with a double and a run.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
12 May 2026
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Denver finished 12-2 that season, reaching its first playoff game since the franchise’s founding.—
Matt Moret,
New York Times,
12 May 2026
Verb
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Authorities have banned all activities within a 2½-mile danger zone around the crater, in line with recommendations from Indonesia’s volcanology agency.—
Niniek Karmini,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
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Cameras won't be banned from the high-profile murder case of the man charged with killing Charlie Kirk, a Utah judge ruled Friday, saying coverage requests from news stations would continue to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 May 2026
Verb
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For years, toxic sewage from the Tijuana River has made residents sick, closed beaches and even disrupted the nation’s military training.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
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In 1999, the range closed, but county officials said firing lines and an earthen berm still exist at the site.—
Nicole Buss,
Sacbee.com,
7 May 2026
Noun
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Taiwanese legislators subsequently approved a $25 billion special defense budget on Friday, a move the senators pointed to as a sign the island is living up to its end of the bargain.—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
11 May 2026
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In fairness, so did everyone else, and with the signing window coming to a close, the White Sox were able to nab Murakami for a (now bargain) two-year, $34 million deal.—
Bill Madden,
New York Daily News,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Close out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/close%20out. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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