1
as in ending
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 excluding
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
3
as in closing (down)
to stop the operations of
failing health forced the cardiologist to close out his practice
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of closing out
On this recent and unseasonably warm afternoon, Ronnie, 15, was tasked with closing out an hourlong lecture on free people of color in the Revolutionary War.
—
Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
His last-minute, mixmaster approach to closing out the transit negotiations irritated several participants, but the end result was a fiscally responsible and transformative restructuring of mass transit in northern Illinois.
—David Greising, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
By 2025, the former New York Yankee earned a spot in the starting rotation but struggled with consistency and closing out hitters.
—Annie Heilbrunn, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
The lineup sparked immediate buzz across social media, with the group headlining opening night alongside Jaÿ-Z—a full-circle moment tracing back to their MTV Unplugged collaboration nearly 25 years ago—with Erykah Badu closing out the second night.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 3 Apr. 2026
Update on Bud Wells After closing out decades of service publishing this weekly report, Bud still reviews cars on his own website and has a newsletter to report those out.
—Sponsored Content, Denver Post, 27 Mar. 2026
The week is closing out soon, so don't leave without scoring a great deal.
—George Yang, PC Magazine, 19 Mar. 2026
These teams split winning on each other’s home court with Vanderbilt closing out the regular season beating Tennessee last week.
—ABC News, 13 Mar. 2026
Nicaragua was one pitch from closing out a 3-1 win, one pitch from dropping the Dutch to 0-2 in Pool D, one pitch from turning Sunday into a survival game.
—Noah Gulley, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2026
Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
His last-minute, mixmaster approach to closing out the transit negotiations irritated several participants, but the end result was a fiscally responsible and transformative restructuring of mass transit in northern Illinois.
—David Greising, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
By 2025, the former New York Yankee earned a spot in the starting rotation but struggled with consistency and closing out hitters.
—Annie Heilbrunn, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
The lineup sparked immediate buzz across social media, with the group headlining opening night alongside Jaÿ-Z—a full-circle moment tracing back to their MTV Unplugged collaboration nearly 25 years ago—with Erykah Badu closing out the second night.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 3 Apr. 2026
Update on Bud Wells After closing out decades of service publishing this weekly report, Bud still reviews cars on his own website and has a newsletter to report those out.
—Sponsored Content, Denver Post, 27 Mar. 2026
The week is closing out soon, so don't leave without scoring a great deal.
—George Yang, PC Magazine, 19 Mar. 2026
These teams split winning on each other’s home court with Vanderbilt closing out the regular season beating Tennessee last week.
—ABC News, 13 Mar. 2026
Nicaragua was one pitch from closing out a 3-1 win, one pitch from dropping the Dutch to 0-2 in Pool D, one pitch from turning Sunday into a survival game.
—Noah Gulley, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for closing out
Verb
-
The Nats then went to the bullpen, ending his night at eight runs (four earned) on five hits over 4 2/3 innings.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
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But it was retrieved and Oaks Christian’s runner was tagged out at the plate trying to score, ending the game.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Activision said 100% of its net proceeds from the pack, excluding applicable taxes, will be donated to the Call of Duty Endowment, which funds programs that help veterans secure employment.—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
6 May 2026
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The Teamsters said all members of the zoo union, excluding those who specialize in caring for the zoo animals, went on strike.—
Talia Soglin,
Chicago Tribune,
4 May 2026
Verb
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After finishing his Army service in Israel at age 21 — which included a stint as a projectionist when movies were shown to soldiers — Firstenberg decided to go to Hollywood.—
Stephen Silver,
Sun Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
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Jon and Matt Stinchcomb, Parkview – One or the other started for Parkview each season from 1991 to 1997, each finishing as a first-team all-state player.—
Todd Holcomb,
AJC.com,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Overturning Citizens United, comprehensive campaign finance reform, banning stock trades for members of Congress, their family members, and business associates, and term limits.—
Kevin Fixler
May 3,
Idaho Statesman,
3 May 2026
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Online adult platforms are being severely restricted these days as new laws banning materials involving adults pretending to be under 18 are put into place.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
3 May 2026
Verb
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Due to the high demand for electricity, the old coal plant isn't completely shutting either.—
Kirk Siegler,
NPR,
2 May 2026
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Relievers Matt Strahm and Lucas Erceg played their own important roles in shutting the door in Seattle.—
Jaylon Thompson
May 2,
Kansas City Star,
2 May 2026
Verb
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This new round of chaos only feeds the anxiety that has enveloped the California Democratic Party for months, stirred by fears that the lack of a singular party front-runner might lead to two Republicans winding up on the November ballot.—
Seema Mehta,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Newsom is winding up eight years as governor with a mixed record at best.—
Tom Philp,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Eichel hasn’t scored a goal in two games and Marner has only an empty-net goal in the closing moments of Game 1.—
Elliott Teaford,
Oc Register,
7 May 2026
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An example of working together would be my approach to closing Men’s Central Jail.—
Sierra van der Brug,
Daily News,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
But, in the larger sense, history was on the verge of concluding.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
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It is later brought back into the synagogue, concluding one of the event’s pillar traditions.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Closing out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/closing%20out. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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