close

SayKLOHZ/kloʊz/UK/kləʊz/

As an adjective or adverbKLOHS

Adjectivecloser, closest

Verbcloses, closing, closed

Noun pluralcloses

Adverbcloser, closest

56 meanings of close

Practice

1
short distanceadjective
Only a short distance away in space or time.
Like two chairs pushed right next to each other.
The store is close to my house, just around the corner.
Their two birthdays are close together in May.
UsageSay close to the shop, or near the shop. It rhymes with dose.
Similarnear, nearby, adjacent
Oppositefar, distant, remote
2
shut (gap)verbtransitive or intransitive
To shut something, such as a door, a box, your eyes or a tap, so it is no longer open.
Like bringing your two hands together until there is no space between them.
Close your eyes and make a wish before you blow out the candles.
She closed the box and pressed the lid down firmly.
UsageIt sounds like nose. Close the door and shut the door mean the same.
Similarshut
Oppositeopen
Note
3
stop serviceverbintransitive
To stop being open or working, for the day or for ever, or to make a place do that.
Like a shop that stops opening its doors.
The pool closes for repairs every winter.
Several factories close when demand drops.
UsageClose down usually means stop for good. To say it is not open now, say the shop is closed.
Similarshut
Oppositeopen, reopen
4
personal bondadjective
Sharing a strong personal bond with someone, like a trusted friend or a member of your family.
Like best friends who tell each other everything.
She is very close to her older sister.
They became close friends during college.
UsageSay close to your sister, or a close friend.
Similarintimate, dear, devoted, tight, inseparable
Oppositedistant, estranged
5
verbintransitive
To end, or to finish something, as in 'she closed the meeting with a thank-you'.
Like a day that comes to an end when the sun goes down.
The show closes at nine o'clock tonight.
The meeting will close soon, so stay seated.
UsageSay the show closed with a song.
Similarend, finish, conclude
Oppositeopen, begin, start (entry)
6
almost reachingadjective
Almost getting or reaching something, or only just avoiding something bad, as in 'that was close!'.
Like almost reaching the top of a hill before you stop.
You're so close to the right answer.
We were close to finishing, but ran out of time.
UsageSay close to winning or came close.
Similarnear
Oppositefar
7
evenly matchedadjective
Almost equal, with very little difference between the two sides.
Like two runners reaching the finish line at almost the same moment.
The football game was close right up to the final whistle.
The vote was so close they had to count it again.
Similartight, even, narrow
Oppositeone-sided, lopsided, uneven
8
endingnouncountable
The point when something ends or finishes.
Like the last page of a book, where the story ends.
At the close of the day, the workers headed home.
The meeting came to a close after two hours.
UsageSay the year drew to a close.
Similarend, conclusion, finish, ending
Oppositebeginning, start (entry), opening
Note
9
tightly connectedadjective
Involving a strong connection and frequent contact or teamwork.
Like two teammates who always pass the ball to each other.
The two countries work in close cooperation on trade.
Our teams stay in close contact during the project.
UsageSay in close contact or work closely with someone.
Similartight, strong
Oppositeloose
10
exit (computer)verbtransitive or intransitive
To shut down a program, window, or file on a computer.
Like shutting a book when you are done reading it.
Close the program before you turn off the computer.
She closed all the windows to free up memory.
Similarexit
Oppositeopen, launch, start (entry)
Note
11
blockverbtransitive
To block a way or opening so nothing can pass.
Like putting a big rock in a doorway so no one can get through.
A landslide closed the only road into the village.
Fallen trees can close the path after a big storm.
Similarshut, block
Oppositeopen
12
verbtransitive or intransitive
To finish making a sale or business deal.
Like shaking hands at the end of a trade to make it final.
The salesman worked hard to close the deal before lunch.
She closed her first big sale last week.
UsageSay close a deal.
Similarclinch, seal, conclude, finalize, complete
Note
13
adverb
In a way that leaves only a small space between things.
Like two friends sitting side by side with no gap between them.
The hikers walked close together along the narrow trail.
Push the chairs close so everyone can fit at the table.
UsageSay stay close or hold me close.
Similartight, near
14
adjective
Almost exactly right or the same, as in 'a close copy' or 'a close guess'.
Like a dart that lands right next to the center of the board.
His guess was close, only a dollar off the real price.
Eight is a close answer, but the right one is nine.
Similarfaithful, accurate
Oppositeloose, inaccurate
15
watchfuladjective
Very careful and paying attention to every detail, as in 'a close look' or 'close watch'.
Like a guard who never takes their eyes off the door.
The guards kept close control over who entered the building.
He paid close attention to every word the teacher said.
UsageKeep a close eye on something means watch it carefully.
Similarcareful, strict, thorough, rigorous, tight
Oppositelax, loose, careless, casual
Note

Less common meanings

16
lock upverbintransitive
To finish the daily tasks and shut a shop at the end of the day.
Like tidying your room and turning off the lights before bed.
Tonight it's my turn to close, so I'll lock up and switch off the lights.
She stayed late to close after the last customer left.
UsageAsk who is closing tonight?
Oppositeopen
Note
17
adverb
In a careful way, looking at all the small parts.
Like putting your ear right against a door to hear better.
Listen close, because I will only explain this once.
Look close and you will see the tiny crack in the glass.
UsageYou may hear watch close, but watch closely is more usual.
Similarcarefully, attentively
Oppositecarelessly
Note
18
packed tightadjective
Packed tightly together with very little space in between.
Like threads packed so tightly that you cannot see between them.
The soldiers marched in close formation across the square.
The jacket has a close weave that keeps out the wind.
Similartight, dense, compact, packed
Oppositeloose, open, sparse
19
verbintransitive
Of a stock, money, or a market, to end a day of buying and selling at a certain price or level.
The company's stock closed at $25 on Friday.
Oil prices may close higher today after the good news.
UsageSay shares closed up or closed down.
Similarfinish, end
Oppositeopen
20
nouncountable
The price of a stock, or the level of the market, when buying and selling stops for the day.
The stock was up two dollars from yesterday's close.
Gold jumped to $2,000, well above its close the week before.
UsageIt sounds like nose, not like close meaning near. Often with a day: yesterday's close, Friday's close.
Oppositeopen
Note
21
withdraw emotionallyverbfigurativelytransitive or intransitive
To stop being open to new ideas, people, or feelings.
Like shutting a door so no one can come inside.
Don't close your heart to people who want to help you.
When he feels hurt, he tends to close up and stop talking.
UsageSay close your mind to an idea.
Similarshut, harden
Oppositeopen
22
stuffyadjective
Stuffy and airless, making you feel tired and uncomfortable.
Like the thick, heavy air inside a hot car with the windows up.
The room felt close and stuffy after the windows had been shut all day.
It was so close in the attic that we could hardly breathe.
UsageOften said of the air or a room: it's close in here. It sounds like dose, not nose.
Similarstuffy, muggy, airless, oppressive, humid
Oppositefresh, airy, breezy
Note
23
SayKLOHS/kloʊs//kləʊs/
dead-end streetnounBritishcountable
A short street that is shut off at one end.
Like a driveway shared by a few houses, with only one way in.
They live in a quiet close just off the high street.
The children played in the close because no traffic came through.
Similarcul-de-sac
Note
24
SayKLOHS/kloʊs//kləʊs/
nouncountable
The land inside the walls around a cathedral, often with houses for its priests.
We ate our lunch on the grass in the close, right beside the cathedral.
The old bishop lived in a small stone house in the close.
Similarprecinct
Note
25
SayKLOHS/kloʊs//kləʊs/
noundialectalScotlandcountable
In Scotland, a narrow lane between buildings, or the stairs and entrance shared by all the homes in a tenement.
Gran's flat is at the top of the close, up three flights of stairs.
It's our turn to clean the close this week.
Similarstairwell
Note
26
adjective
Short, especially of hair or grass that has been cut.
He asked the barber for a close cut on the sides and more length on top.
This razor gives a very close shave.
UsageUsed about hair, grass and shaving: a close shave. That phrase can also mean you only just escaped danger.
Similarshort, cropped
Oppositelong
Note
27
noun
The time when staff stop letting passengers check in for a flight.
28
adjective
Made with the tongue raised near the roof of the mouth.
29
verb
To fill up and get packed tighter.
30
verb
Of a switch, to move so that electric current can go through.
31
verb
To get near an enemy and fight hand to hand.
32
verb
To turn the face of a club or bat down, or left for a right-handed player.
33
verb
To come on last at a show or concert.
34
verb
To pitch the end of a baseball game and get the last outs.
35
verb
To end a trade by buying or selling to cancel it out.
36
verbdialectalCyprusPhilippinesQuebec
To stop a light or machine from running.
37
verb
To surround something on every side.
38
verb
Of measured lines, to join up and make a shape with no gap.
39
noun
The way a thing shuts, or where two parts meet.
40
noun
The final step in selling, when the seller asks you to buy.
41
noun
A hold where wrestlers grab each other.
42
noun
The ending of a piece or part of music.
43
noun
The double line that shows the end of a piece of music.
44
adjective
Small and tight, with little room.
45
adjective
Locked up and watched very carefully.
46
adjective
Only open to a few people.
47
adjective
Of a company, owned by only a few people.
48
adjectivearchaic
Shut, not open.
There is nothinge so close, that shall not be openned, and nothinge so hyd that shall not be knowen.
1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt (Tyndale Bible)
49
adjective
Of a bird on a coat of arms, with its wings folded in.
50
adjectivedated
Hard to get.
Some of these parties have not paid their last payment, because money was close last fall.
1886, “Leases of Lands in the Indian Territory”, in United States Congressional Serial Set
51
adjectivedated
Not liking to spend money.
Though a hard-grained man, close, dry, and silent, he can enjoy old wine with the best. He has a priceless bin of port in some artful cellar under the Fields, which is one of his many secrets.
1852, Charles Dickens, Bleak House
52
adjectiveobsolete
Hidden or kept secret.
He yet kept himself close because of Saul.
1611, The Holy Bible, King James Version
53
adjectivearchaic
Short and clear, with no extra words.
Where the original is close no version can reach it in the same compass.
1690, John Dryden, Translations (Preface)
54
nounarchaicYorkshire
A field with a wall or hedge around it, often around a church.
55
noundialectalScotland
A tight little lane between buildings, often with an upper floor built out over it.
56
noun
Someone's legal right in an area of land, even with no fence.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of close apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 2–3, 5, 8, 10–12, 16, 19–21

From an Old English word meaning "to shut," and also from an Old French word 'clos' ("closed, confined"), which came from Latin 'claudere' ("to shut, close").

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 4 facts

Close partly descends from Old English clȳsan, meaning 'to shut'. en.wiktionary.org
Close also derives from Old French clos, meaning 'closed, confined'. en.wiktionary.org
Old French clos ultimately derives from Latin claudere, through its past participle clausus. en.wiktionary.org
Latin claudere means 'to shut, close'. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 1, 4, 6–7, 9, 13–15, 17–18, 22–26

The French word clos was borrowed into English. Its source is Latin clausum, which is a form of the verb claudō.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

English borrowed close from French clos. en.wiktionary.org
French clos derives from Latin clausum. en.wiktionary.org
Clausum is a form of the Latin verb claudō. en.wiktionary.org