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
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 out
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
By way of comparison, the district on Tuesday also approved job reductions to protect the solvency of the district over the long term — closing out 657 central and regional office jobs — to achieve a savings of $150 million per year.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2026
Shoppers unexpectedly paused their spending in December from November, closing out the holiday shopping season and the year on a lackluster tone.
—Anne D'innocenzio, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026
That would be Southeast Division rival Atlanta, the very team the Hornets meet on Saturday at State Farm Arena before closing out their pre All-Star break schedule against the Hawks four days later in uptown at Spectrum Center.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 5 Feb. 2026
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
By way of comparison, the district on Tuesday also approved job reductions to protect the solvency of the district over the long term — closing out 657 central and regional office jobs — to achieve a savings of $150 million per year.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2026
Shoppers unexpectedly paused their spending in December from November, closing out the holiday shopping season and the year on a lackluster tone.
—Anne D'innocenzio, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026
That would be Southeast Division rival Atlanta, the very team the Hornets meet on Saturday at State Farm Arena before closing out their pre All-Star break schedule against the Hawks four days later in uptown at Spectrum Center.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 5 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for closing out
Verb
-
However, Richey escaped any further damage with an inning-ending strikeout.—
Mike Waters,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Apr. 2026
-
This one, coming off the back of two hugely disappointing, trophy-ending, and potentially derailing defeats, was one of their best of the season.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In 2024, transit ambassadors earned an average of $38,027 in regular pay, excluding part-time workers, according to data RT released to The Sacramento Bee.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
7 Apr. 2026
-
The decision was discussed during a March 7 call between the cast — excluding Paul and Mortensen — and ABC executives.—
Rebecca Cohen,
NBC news,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
European markets’ Tuesday oscillations followed a four-day Easter break, after finishing Thursday’s session in mixed territory.—
Hugh Leask,Joseph Wilkins,
CNBC,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Just this week a former Miami player, Tonye Jekiri, who is finishing a 10-year pro career in Serbia, called Larrañaga about talking with a school administrator for his next career.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
While many of the California laws banning the political use of public office are civil statutes, one is a criminal statute.—
Will Swaim,
Oc Register,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Colorado just enacted the nation’s first law banning arrests based solely on the results of colorimetric drug tests – a field test widely used by law enforcement across the country.—
Holly Yan,
CNN Money,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Several roadblocks led to the e-tailer shutting its doors, including cross-border logistics, inconsistent tariff policies, and market volatility, according to Kanabar.—
Ezreen Benissan,
Vogue,
2 Apr. 2026
-
That’s not democracy, that’s dysfunction and shutting voters out.—
Doug Friednash,
Denver Post,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But even as the mayor’s initiative brings more people indoors, a growing number are winding up back on the street.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Newsom is winding up eight years as governor with a mixed record at best.—
Tom Philp,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
After closing arguments, Judge Arun Subramanian gave instructions to the jury and sent them off to deliberate.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
9 Apr. 2026
-
In San Jose Unified, enrollment has fallen roughly 20% over the past eight years, prompting officials to consider closing nine of its 41 schools next year.—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This Knicks team is not the same as the one that won over the hearts of fans during two consecutive 50-win seasons concluding Thibodeau’s MSG tenure.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Golden State hosts the Lakers on Thursday for the team’s final regular-season game at Chase Center, and then faces the Kings in Sacramento again on Friday before concluding the season in Inglewood against the Clippers on Sunday.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Closing out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/closing%20out. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
