CLOSES Synonyms: 245 Similar and Opposite Words

closes 1 of 3

verb

present tense third-person singular of close

as in shuts

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

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Relevance

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as in closes (down)

to stop the operations of the merchant will close the store if business doesn't improve

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as in ends

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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as in expires

to come to an end the services closed with a short prayer

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as in comes

to come near or nearer the two groups closed with each other from opposite sides of the field

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closes

2 of 3

noun (1)

plural of close

as in courtyards

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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closes

3 of 3

noun (2)

plural of close

as in halts

the stopping of a process or activity at the close of the evening

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as in endings

the last part of a process or action managed to conduct the negotiations to a satisfactory close

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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 closes

Verb

Horse racing’s biggest star closes from dead last, but Blame holds off the 6-year-old mare and wins the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic under the lights Churchill Downs. — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026 Tesla exit The Tesla sale closes another highly profitable bet for Scottish Mortgage, which invests globally in a mix of public and private high-growth companies, typically with a longer-term investment view. — Hugh Leask, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2026 The partnerships that last are the ones where the parties identify their differences early, structure around them and stay aligned long after the transaction closes. — Anas Bhairi, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026 Thrive Capital’s Joshua Kushner is set to become the Lakers’ primary owner once that deal closes, with Bob Iger expected to have a hands-on operational role in addition to his ownership stake. — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 5 Nov. 2026 Costco closes for seven holidays a year, including Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s. — Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 4 Nov. 2026 Supporters counter that the measure closes loopholes in existing law, protects privacy and safety in locker rooms and bathrooms, and establishes consistent rules for fair athletic competition across the state. — Matt Calkins Outkick, FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2026 Knowing what happens to the face after the gate closes should be part of it, too. — Burak Oktenli, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Nov. 2026 Too much dependence on one shipping lane means that when a corridor closes, there may be no fallback. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026

Noun

Whether China and the United States blunder into war before that window closes will be among the defining questions of the coming years. — Niall Ferguson, Foreign Affairs, 20 Oct. 2026 Big for Club name Nvidia, which has posted back-to-back record closes. — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026 How much of that reporting burden will reach portfolio companies remains unclear, but some of it likely will as PE sponsors seek standardized KPIs, faster financial closes, more granular operational metrics and clearer governance documentation. — Nate Heeren, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026 However, the action may not end at 11pm — deal sheets allow clubs to conclude signings two hours after the transfer window closes, provided the correct paperwork is submitted before the deadline. — Leon Imber, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026 The drive-in closes for the season after Labor Day and usually reopens on Memorial Day. — Natalie Davies, Freep.com, 29 Aug. 2026 Plausibly, then, Chinese forecasters determined that the weather would not break before the current launch window to reach the lunar pole from Wenchang closes. — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 23 Aug. 2026 After the window to submit claims closes, payments will be issued by September, according to the settlement website. — Melina Khan, USA Today, 24 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for closes

Verb

But Wilson pulled up anyway — because, sometimes, the best shot on the court is the one that shuts a team up.

— Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026
Your middle schooler walks in, drops her backpack and shuts the bedroom door.

— Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of shuts

Verb

The five-episode limited series takes viewers on an emotional journey, opening with a shocking first scene which is also how the series ends.

— Reshma Gopaldas, IndieWire, 4 Nov. 2026
But even after the uneven Multiverse Saga ends (hopefully on a high note), Marvel Studios won’t be stopping.

— Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of ends

Verb

Valzonis will serve the remainder of Pittman’s term, which expires in November 2028.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 3 Nov. 2026
If voters decide against retaining a judge, the position will become vacant once the judge’s current term expires.

— The Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of expires

Noun

Backing up to the Cary Country Club and not far from the Fox River, the interior layout of this home is organized around courtyards, with a separate bedroom wing.

— Rachel Freundt, Chicago Tribune, 5 Nov. 2026
Sensory gardens are showing up in home listings, school courtyards and botanical parks, and homeowners want to know whether the idea actually works in their own backyard.

— Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of courtyards

Noun

Seko nonetheless expects temporary gate suspensions and pilotage halts for Ningbo, Shanghai, Xiamen and Fuzhou from Friday night through Monday, with intermittent pilotage suspensions at Yangshan across the same window.

— Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026
That was March 2020, when the CEOs of General Motors, Ford, and Fiat Chrysler tried to coordinate production halts over Covid-19 fears, only to be warned by their lawyers that doing so could violate antitrust rules.

— Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of halts

Noun

The main reason the Giants have a chance to win every week, though, despite all their injuries and heart-stopping endings, is that Jameis Winston is playing well as their starting quarterback.

— Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 18 Oct. 2026
Dramatic — and sometimes controversial — endings were the story of a wild college football Saturday, with late-game calls deciding some outcomes and potentially having an effect on how the College Football Playoff shapes up a couple months from now.

— Tim Reynolds, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of endings

Verb

The report concludes that the future of denim finishing will not be defined by individual technologies alone but by the ability to manage complex processes in a more controlled, transparent, and continuously improvable manner.

— Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 2 Nov. 2026
Awaiting Artemis The gallery concludes with a space reserved to exhibit the Artemis I capsule, the spacecraft that flew without astronauts to the Moon in 2022.

— Robert Pearlman, ArsTechnica, 2 Nov. 2026