1
: near a center of activity and especially a city
close-in suburbs
2
: occurring or designed for use within a narrowly limited area
close-in fighting
close-in weapons
closed in; closing in; closes in
1
: to encircle closely and isolate
2
: to enshroud to such an extent as to preclude entrance or exit
the airport was closed in by the storm
1
: to gather in close all around with an oppressing or isolating effect
despair closed in on her
2
: to approach to close quarters especially for an attack, raid, or arrest
the police closed in
3
: to grow dark
the short November day was already closing in—
Ellen Glasgow
Ellen GlasgowExamples of close-in in a Sentence
Verb
the eagle closed in on its prey
with evening closing in we knew we had to find shelter fairly soon
Recent Examples on the Web
Edward Russell, Travel + Leisure, 1 Mar. 2025
Boswell struggled from the field, missing close-in shots, and from the free throw line, making only 8 of 16 from the stripe in the first half.
—Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Feb. 2025
There is, however, a favorable scenario for observing an atmosphere escaping in real time: a gas giant on a close-in orbit, also known as a hot Jupiter.
—Dakotah Tyler, Scientific American, 18 Feb. 2025
Conveniently located inside the I-435 loop, this close-in development offers easy access to major highways.
—Reecenichols Real Estate, Kansas City Star, 16 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for close-in
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Adjective
And Delta launches a nonstop to its Seattle hub from the close-in airport on March 9.
—Edward Russell, Travel + Leisure, 1 Mar. 2025
Boswell struggled from the field, missing close-in shots, and from the free throw line, making only 8 of 16 from the stripe in the first half.
—Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Feb. 2025
There is, however, a favorable scenario for observing an atmosphere escaping in real time: a gas giant on a close-in orbit, also known as a hot Jupiter.
—Dakotah Tyler, Scientific American, 18 Feb. 2025
Conveniently located inside the I-435 loop, this close-in development offers easy access to major highways.
—Reecenichols Real Estate, Kansas City Star, 16 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for close-in
Cite this Entry
“Close-in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/close-in. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025.
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close in
verb
: to gather in close all around with an oppressing effect
despair closed in on her
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