close quarters

plural noun

: immediate contact or close range
fought at close quarters

Examples of close quarters in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Unfortunately, the close quarters of cruise ships can make the vessels good environments for spreading a variety of ailments. Scott Laird, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Mar. 2024 No doubt fans of Succession, The Sopranos, and The White Lotus will be flocking to the Circle in the Square to see Strong and Imperioli do their thing in such close quarters. Dalton Ross, EW.com, 18 Mar. 2024 Leaving the close quarters, the Bruin understudies were directed to the stands to watch the varsity workout unfolding with precision from the first day, nonstop chatter from players on the court and a brisk tempo that reignited Walton. Scott Howard-Cooper., Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2024 The inferno was exacerbated by the camp’s close quarters and shoddy construction. Suzy Hansen, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2024 The analysis suggests a direct correlation between teams working in close quarters and their ability to produce pioneering work. Gleb Tsipursky, Fortune, 3 Jan. 2024 The 2020 novel by Rumaan Alam follows two families who are forced into close quarters when a sudden emergency befalls them. Carly Tagen-Dye, Peoplemag, 8 Dec. 2023 Yipping is a form of social bonding within the pack in close quarters and often indicates happiness or contentment and is also made by pups playing together. Hampton Bourne, Field & Stream, 22 Nov. 2023 Inside, workers and equipment shared close quarters amid the stacks of pallets. Rachel Uranga, Los Angeles Times, 15 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'close quarters.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1809, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of close quarters was in 1809

Dictionary Entries Near close quarters

Cite this Entry

“Close quarters.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/close%20quarters. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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