1
: a photograph or movie shot taken at close range
2
: an intimate view or examination of something
close-up
2 of 2adverb or adjective
: at close range
Synonyms
Adverb or adjective
Examples of close-up in a Sentence
Adverb or adjective
come over here and get a close-up view of the painting
Recent Examples on the Web
Manohla Dargis, New York Times, 15 May 2024
While the camera remains trained on various women through piercing close-ups, rare are the moments when the movie widens its scope, despite gesturing toward a larger picture.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 17 May 2024
Tracey Harrington McCoy, Peoplemag, 20 Mar. 2023
She’s introduced in motion and in close-up, during a hallway scuffle shot in a documentary-like style with handheld camera, available light and jumpy editing.
—Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2023
See all Example Sentences for close-up 
Noun
The chase grows exponentially tenser as Miller begins shifting between close-ups and expansive long shots, the raucous noise and energy of the kidnappers on their hell machines working contrapuntally against the desert’s stillness.
—Manohla Dargis, New York Times, 15 May 2024
While the camera remains trained on various women through piercing close-ups, rare are the moments when the movie widens its scope, despite gesturing toward a larger picture.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 17 May 2024
Adverb or adjective
The first glimpse was a close-up shot of the tats, while the second showed the tattoo artist and Damon smiling post-ink session.
—Tracey Harrington McCoy, Peoplemag, 20 Mar. 2023
She’s introduced in motion and in close-up, during a hallway scuffle shot in a documentary-like style with handheld camera, available light and jumpy editing.
—Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2023
See all Example Sentences for close-up
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'close-up.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near close-up
Cite this Entry
“Close-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/close-up. Accessed 12 Jun. 2024.
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