closing in

verb

present participle of close in
1
as in coming up
to come near or nearer the eagle closed in on its prey

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in darkening
to grow dark with evening closing in we knew we had to find shelter fairly soon

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 closing in National Hurricane Center specialist Elizabeth Adams said Monday that Nolo was closing in on Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, a marine conservation area northwest of the islands. — Arkansas Online, 29 Sep. 2026 The 50-day is at $616 and the 200-day at $626, with the 50-day turning higher and closing in on a cross above the longer average for the first time since the winter. — Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2026 The Guardians have won five straight and are closing in on a postseason spot. — ABC News, 21 Sep. 2026 Say, if Ferrari, which is closing in on another 20 years without a title, finally designs a pack-leading car and Leclerc is in the fight as much as Hamilton. — Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026 Tropical Storm Edouard is closing in on the Texas-Louisiana border, forecast to possibly reach hurricane strength at landfall Tuesday with dangerous storm surge and flooding rain. — Jamie Stengle, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026 The father-daughter duo has set up shop ensconced in the woods, herding donkeys and so far evading the violence closing in on them from the outside. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 25 Aug. 2026 Under various owners, Glen View House operated for decades as a tavern and restaurant before closing in March 2023. — Jennifer Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026 California lawmakers are closing in on a deal to help film producers who are facing new limits on their ability to monetize production tax credits. — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 18 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for closing in
  1. coming up
  2. darkening
  3. drawing on
  4. blacking out
  5. closing
  6. coming
  7. approaching
  8. bellying up
Verb
  • About 20 feet behind Belfie's fence, a CBS News Philadelphia drone captured where the water is coming up from the ground.
    — Liz Crawford, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Relatively wealthy developing countries, such as South Africa, have started coming up with much of the funding for their own HIV programs.
    — Dina Kraft, Christian Science Monitor, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of coming up
Verb
  • But at a festive National Day meal in Riyadh, where families dined while patriotic songs filled the room, there was a growing sense that the public mood may be darkening.
    — Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2026
  • The title references Black Like Me, white journalist John Howard Griffin’s 1961 nonfiction book about darkening his skin to pass for Black in the Jim Crow South.
    — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of darkening
Verb
  • Meanwhile, over in Asia, a top McKinsey executive laid out what sets Asia's owner-CEOs apart, drawing on the firm's research that helps filter out the key factors that determine successful leadership.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Instead, the self-regulating organization takes the day-to-day lead in devising standards, conducting oversight, enforcing rules, and punishing bad actors, drawing on its business members’ unique knowledge and real-world expertise.
    — William R. Gruver, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of drawing on
Verb
  • Residents around Milwaukee may see motorcycles rolling around town, goth concerts blacking out downtown parks, parades celebrating workers and fall kickoff events preparing for sweater weather.
    — Everett Eaton, jsonline.com, 4 Sep. 2026
  • This curtain type is airy, casual, and gives your windows a sense of place and structure without feeling stuffy—or completely blacking out the sunshine during golden hour.
    — Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of blacking out
Verb
  • Now that the eleventh-hour challenge was denied, Paramount CEO David Ellison can move forward with closing the merger as planned.
    — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 6 Oct. 2026
  • In September, California Department of Education spokesperson Scott Roark said closing Highlands in Twin Rivers Unified would not eliminate its debts, including what is owed to the state.
    — Chaewon Chung Updated October 5, Sacbee.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of closing
Verb
  • The island has hosted a Ground Self-Defense Force garrison since 2016, while Tokyo has plans to add additional air-defense capabilities in the coming years.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The man’s identity was expected to be released by the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office in the coming days.
    — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of coming
Verb
  • Investigators found blood near the front entrance, and surveillance footage released by the FBI showed a masked person approaching the property and interfering with a security camera.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Wilson received a technical foul after leaving the court and approaching the spectator during the fourth quarter of Indiana’s 99-89 victory at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of approaching
Verb
  • Once called ''the funniest woman on TV,'' Catherine O'Hara spends much of her time these days bellying up against a snooker table at the Squeeze Club, a Toronto juice bar and pool hall.
    — Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 31 Jan. 2026
  • Across the river, Le Crocodile at the Wythe Hotel in Williamsburg, Brooklyn brings a stylish, approachable scene for bellying up and indulging in sexy French cuisine.
    — Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026
Definition of bellying up

Browse Nearby Words

closing (down)
closing in
closing in (on)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Closing in.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/closing%20in. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

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