closed; closing
1
a
: to move so as to bar passage through something
Close the gate.
b
: to block against entry or passage
close a street
c
: to deny access to
The city closed the beach.
d
: to suspend or stop the operations of
close school
—often used with downThey closed down the factory.
2
a
: to bring to an end or period
close an account
closed his football career with an outstanding big bowl performance
Investigators closed the case after concluding that his death was accidental.
b
: to terminate access to (a computer file or program)
Remember to save the file before closing it.
c
: to conclude discussion or negotiation about
The question is closed.
also
: to consummate (see consummate entry 2 sense 2) by performing something previously agreed
close a transfer of real estate title
3
a
: to bring or bind together the parts or edges of
a closed book
b
: to reduce to nil
closed the distance to the lead racer
c
: to fill up (something, such as an opening)
close the cracks with plaster of paris
d
: to make complete by circling or enveloping or by making continuous
close a circuit
1
a
: to contract, fold, swing, or slide so as to leave no opening
The door closed quietly.
b
: to cease operation
The factory closed down.
The stores close at 9 p.m.
2
a
: to come together : meet
The jaws of the vise closed.
b
: to draw the free foot up to the supporting foot in dancing
3
: to come to an end or period
The services closed with a short prayer.
4
: to enter into or complete an agreement
close on a deal
5
: to reduce a gap
closed to within two points
6
a
: to draw near
The ship was closing with the island.
b
: to engage in a struggle at close quarters : grapple
close with the enemy
closer; closest
1
: being near in time, space, effect, or degree
at close range
close to my birthday
close to the speed of sound
4
5
: decided or won by a narrow margin
a close baseball game
6
a
: very short or near to the surface
a close haircut
b
: fitting tightly or exactly
a close fit
7
: confined or carefully guarded
close quarters
close arrest
8
: having little space between items or units
a close weave
a close grain
9
: hot and stuffy
a room with an uncomfortably close atmosphere
10
: difficult to obtain
Money is close.
11
: not generous in giving or spending : tight
… a close buyer and a good marketer.—
W. A. White
W. A. White12
: having no openings : closed
13
: restricted to a privileged class
a close scholarship
14
15
a
of a vowel
: high sense 13
b
: formed with the tongue in a higher position than for the other vowel of a pair
Italian has a close and an open e.
16
of punctuation
: characterized by liberal use especially of commas
closely
adverb
closeness
noun
: in a close position or manner
Don't drive so close to the car in front of you.
Look close and tell me what you see.
They sat close together on the bench.
1
a
: a coming or bringing to a conclusion
at the close of the party
b
: a conclusion or end in time or existence : cessation
The decade drew to a close.
c
: the concluding passage (as of a speech or play)
At the close of his speech, he thanked his supporters.
2
: the conclusion of a musical strain or period : cadence
Following the close of the symphony, the audience rose and applauded.
3
: the movement of the free foot in dancing toward or into contact with the supporting foot
4
archaic
: a hostile encounter
1
a
chiefly British
: the precinct (see precinct sense 2a) of a cathedral
b
: an enclosed area
2
chiefly British
a
: a road closed at one end
b
: a narrow passage leading from a street to a court and the houses within or to the common stairway of tenements
Synonyms
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Noun (1)
- arrest
- arrestment
- cease
- cessation
- check
- closedown
- closure
- conclusion
- cutoff
- discontinuance
- discontinuation
- end
- ending
- expiration
- finish
- halt
- lapse
- offset
- shutdown
- shutoff
- stay
- stop
- stoppage
- surcease
- termination
Noun (2)
Examples of close in a Sentence
Verb
We had better close the windows; it looks like it's going to rain.
I forgot to close the gate.
She was having trouble closing the drawer.
Close the lid on the box tightly.
The door opened and closed so quietly that I didn't notice he had come in the room.
The box's lid closed with a bang.
Remember to close the box of cereal when you're done.
Please close your books and put them under your desks.
Close your eyes and go to sleep.
I closed my fists and got ready to fight.
Adjective
We're not there yet, but we're getting close.
We stood close together to stay warm.
Christmas is getting closer and will soon be here.
Their daughters are close in age.
close in size and shape
at the close of the evening
managed to conduct the negotiations to a satisfactory close
Adverb
Don't drive so close to the car in front of you.
He told me to stay close as we walked through the crowd.
The time for a decision is drawing closer.
My teammate came in third, and I finished close behind.
They sat close together at the dinner table.
a garden in a close at the center of the complex
Recent Examples on the Web
Staff Report, Orange County Register, 15 Nov. 2024
Brighton Boulevard, which runs through the middle of the refinery, was closed for a period that day.
—Noelle Phillips, The Denver Post, 15 Nov. 2024
Imani Cruzen, Twin Cities, 16 Nov. 2024
China demonstrated its pull on the world stage by welcoming a delegation from Saudi Arabia with its first pavilion at the event, as well as its close ties with Russia even as that country is isolated from Western nations and their allies due to its invasion of Ukraine.
—Reuters, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
Christopher Kuhagen, Journal Sentinel, 6 Nov. 2024
Ohio polls close at 7:30 p.m. Hyde Park polling place closed because of 'suspicious package'
Police closed a polling place in Hyde Park late Tuesday after poll workers discovered a suspicious backpack.
—Dan Horn, The Enquirer, 6 Nov. 2024
Kyle Denis, Billboard, 19 Nov. 2024
That won't activate, and with an opt-out built in after two years, the Giants are expected to release him after the 2024 campaign comes to a close.
—Scott Thompson, Fox News, 19 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for close 
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.
Verb
The company is temporarily closing its plant during the holidays from December 23, 2024, through December 27, 2024.
—Staff Report, Orange County Register, 15 Nov. 2024
Brighton Boulevard, which runs through the middle of the refinery, was closed for a period that day.
—Noelle Phillips, The Denver Post, 15 Nov. 2024
Adjective
Ballot recounts are scheduled Tuesday for two close Ramsey County races.
—Imani Cruzen, Twin Cities, 16 Nov. 2024
China demonstrated its pull on the world stage by welcoming a delegation from Saudi Arabia with its first pavilion at the event, as well as its close ties with Russia even as that country is isolated from Western nations and their allies due to its invasion of Ukraine.
—Reuters, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
Adverb
Georgia, the rest of Indiana and Kentucky, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia and parts of Florida close at 7 p.m. ET.
—Christopher Kuhagen, Journal Sentinel, 6 Nov. 2024
Ohio polls close at 7:30 p.m. Hyde Park polling place closed because of 'suspicious package'
Police closed a polling place in Hyde Park late Tuesday after poll workers discovered a suspicious backpack.
—Dan Horn, The Enquirer, 6 Nov. 2024
Noun
With the first quarter of the 21st century coming to a close, Billboard has spent the last few months counting down our staff picks for the 25 greatest pop stars of the last 25 years.
—Kyle Denis, Billboard, 19 Nov. 2024
That won't activate, and with an opt-out built in after two years, the Giants are expected to release him after the 2024 campaign comes to a close.
—Scott Thompson, Fox News, 19 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for close
Dictionary Entries Near close
Cite this Entry
“Close.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/close. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
close
1 of 5 verb
closed; closing
1
a
: to move so as to prevent passage through something
close the gate
b
: to block against passage
close a street
2
: to stop the operations of
close school early
—often used with down
3
a
: to bring or come to an end or conclusion
close a deal
the meeting closed
b
: to end access to
close an app
4
: to bring together the parts or edges of
a closed fist
close the book
5
a
: to draw near
the second-place runner was closing fast
b
: to engage in a struggle at close quarters
close with the enemy
closer
noun
close
2 of 5 noun
: the point at which something ends
close
3 of 5 noun
: an enclosed area
close
4 of 5 adjective
closer; closest
1
: having no openings : closed
2
a
: hidden from sight
b
: not open or frank : secretive
3
: rigorous sense 1
keep close watch
4
: hot and stuffy
5
: not generous : stingy
close with money
6
: having little space between items or units
flying in close formation
7
: fitting tightly or exactly
8
: very short or near the surface
a close haircut
9
: being near in time, space, effect, or degree
10
: having a strong liking each one for the other
a close friend
11
: very precise and attentive to details
close measurements
a close observer
12
: decided by a narrow margin
a close race
closely
adverb
closeness
noun
close
5 of 5 adverb
: in a close position or manner
Legal Definition
close
1 of 2 verb
closed; closing
1
: to bring to an end or to a state of completion
closed the case
close an estate by liquidating its assets
closing his account
2
: to conclude discussion or negotiation about
also
: to bring to completion by performing something previously agreed
closing a merger
close the property sale
1
: to enter into or complete an agreement (as for the sale of real estate)
they closed on the house
2
: to come to an end or to a state of completion
after the class closes, the trust shall continue…until the death of the last surviving member of the class—Louisiana Revised Statutes
Louisiana Revised Statutesclose
2 of 2 noun
: an enclosed area
break another's close
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