close
verb (transitive)
UK/kləʊs/US/kloʊs/
To shut something, making it no longer open or accessible; to bring something to an end.
Example Sentences
Please close the door when you leave the room.
He decided to close his business after years of dedicated service.
After the meeting, she closed the conference room and left quietly.
They will close the store early due to the severe weather forecast.
The manager asked everyone to close their laptops before the end of the day.
To ensure privacy, make sure to close the curtains fully.
Despite the challenges, they managed to close the deal successfully, securing a long-term partnership that would benefit both companies significantly.
As the sun set, the theater began to close its doors, signaling the end of another bustling day filled with eager audiences and captivating performances.
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adjective
UK/kləʊs/US/kloʊs/
Near in space or time; intimate or having a strong relationship; or clear and easy to understand.
Example Sentences
They live in a close-knit community where everyone knows each other.
The hotel is centrally located, making it close to all major attractions.
She has a close relationship with her siblings, always supporting each other through thick and thin.
The runner was in close proximity to the finish line when he made his final sprint.
Her close attention to detail ensured the project was completed flawlessly.
They held a close meeting to discuss the confidential matters without any interruptions.
Despite their differences, they maintained a close friendship, built on mutual respect and understanding.
The team's close collaboration led to innovative solutions that significantly improved the company's performance.
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adverb
UK/kləʊs/US/kloʊs/
In a close manner; tightly or nearly; without obstruction or confusion.
Example Sentences
She held the rope close to her side to prevent it from tangling.
The two competitors were closely matched, making the final round extremely exciting.
He listened closely to every word she said, ensuring he didn't miss any important details.
The car was nearly out of fuel, so they had to find a gas station close by.
They lived close, allowing them to visit each other frequently without much effort.
She kept her secrets close, trusting only a few with her most personal thoughts.
During the performance, the dancer moved her arms closely, creating elegant and fluid motions that captivated the audience.
The hikers stayed closely together as they navigated the narrow trail, ensuring everyone's safety in the challenging terrain.
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noun (countable)
UK/kləʊs/US/kloʊs/
A short distance; the space or interval between two points or objects.
Example Sentences
They live just a close from the school, making it easy for the children to walk.
Keep a close between the two buildings to allow easy access for maintenance crews.
The park is within a close of the downtown area, providing a convenient green space for city residents.
During the race, the runner maintained a close to the leader, pushing herself to keep up the pace.
The twins are so alike that they often finish each other's sentences, sharing a close bond.
The construction workers left a close around the site to ensure safety and prevent unauthorized access.
In a close match, the final score was decided by a single point, highlighting the teams' competitive spirit.
The photographer captured the couple standing at a close, romantic distance, perfectly framing their connection against the scenic backdrop.
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How to Use
Indicates near in space or time, or the act of shutting or finalizing something.This term operates both as an adjective and a verb. As an adjective, “close” can mean near in distance, time, or relationship—“We live close to the station,” or “They’re close friends.” As a verb, it commonly signifies shutting or concluding a matter—“Please close the door,” or “We must close the deal by Friday.” In a broader sense, it can also imply completion or sealing off any gap: “They closed the investigation after finding sufficient evidence.” In everyday usage, specifying context is crucial, as the meaning shifts from simply ‘nearby’ to actively finalizing or sealing something. If you want to highlight nearness, ensure you accompany “close” with location or relational details. If you intend the sense of concluding or shutting, identify the action’s target (e.g., door, window, meeting, agreement) for clarity.
Alternatives
For proximity, synonyms include “near,” “nearby,” “adjacent,” or “in proximity,” each capturing slightly different levels of closeness. If you need alternatives for concluding an event or sealing something, consider “shut,” “seal,” or “finalize,” depending on formality and context. “Terminate” or “wrap up” might fit more formal or procedural scenarios. In casual language, you might say “zip up” when talking about enclosing something portable like a bag. For emotional or relational closeness, words like “tight,” “intimate,” or “bonded” can describe strong personal connections. Select synonyms based on whether you need to highlight physical adjacency, emotional bonds, or the act of ending/opening states or processes, ensuring your choice best suits the tone and intent of your message. Varying your terminology can also avoid repetition, making your language more engaging and precise.
Writing
When writing, you can use “close” to convey physical nearness—“The café was close to the library”—or to show emotional warmth: “They share a close bond rooted in mutual respect.” As a verb, it emphasizes the act of shutting or concluding, helping establish scenes where doors, windows, or deals must be secured or resolved: “She decided to close all open cases before her vacation.” In formal or academic work, “close” might appear in concluding remarks—“To close, let us summarize the key findings”—or highlight imminent deadlines—“We must close registration by the end of the week.” Provide context and, if needed, clarifying details about what is being closed or how near something truly is. By pairing “close” with strong, descriptive language, you convey both distance and finality, shaping scenes that range from literal shut doors to metaphorical resolutions of a plot or argument. Balance it with synonyms when multiple references are needed, and ensure each usage specifies whether you mean adjacency, intimacy, or finalization for a coherent, polished text.
Casual Conversation
In everyday conversation, you might hear, “We live close to the beach,” capturing physical nearness, or “I’m close to finishing my work,” marking a near-complete task. Asking someone to “close the window, please” politely requests a simple action. Friends might reference closeness to express strong connections—“We’re pretty close; we talk every day.” You can also use it in friendly banter—“Be careful; you’re getting close to dropping that!”—as a casual warning or observation. Because “close” is so versatile, it’s easy to slip into multiple contexts without confusion. Just be mindful of the audience: specify whether you’re talking about a spatial relationship, a personal bond, or shutting an item. In everyday exchanges, it’s an all-purpose word that succinctly addresses both physical and figurative nearness, as well as any form of coming to an end or sealing something off.
Etymology
Derived from the Latin verb “claudere,” meaning “to shut,” the root passed into Old French as “clos,” signifying enclosed or shut off. It then traveled into Middle English, retaining aspects of sealed containment and bringing in the idea of nearness. Over centuries, English speakers adapted “close” to capture various shades of meaning—from physically shutting doors and finalizing agreements to highlighting short distances or tight relationships. Even modern sense expansions, like “closing a discussion” or describing emotional intimacy, trace back to that original concept of drawing something together or keeping out external separation. This etymological thread underscores how physical barriers and nearness can overlap metaphorically in language, creating a single term to describe physical, emotional, or conceptual forms of adjacency or conclusion.
