closed
- 1Shut, with an opening covered or blocked.
Like a bag pressed shut so no air can get in.
The jar lid was closed tight, so the jam stayed fresh for weeks.
Make sure the gate stays closed so the dog can't get out.
UsageNot the same as close (near): a closed door is shut; a close friend is a good friend.
Note
- 2
- 3Simple past and past participle of close. Use it for past actions and after words like "has" or "be".
She closed the door quietly behind her.
They closed the shop early last night.
Note
- 4Not able to be used or run at the moment.
Like a machine that's switched off and can't be used.
Her old bank account is now closed.
The ski lift is closed today because of the strong wind.
Similarunavailable, shut
- 5Blocked so that no one can pass through.
Like a path with a fallen tree across it that you can't get past.
The road was closed after the heavy snow.
They kept the bridge closed until the repairs were done.
UsageSay a road is closed to traffic or closed for repairs.
Similarblocked, impassable, shut, inaccessible
- 6Not letting visitors or the public enter.
Like a door with a sign on it that says 'do not enter'.
The park is closed after dark.
The army base is closed to the public.
UsageSay closed to the public.
Similarshut, off-limits
Oppositeopen, accessible
- 7
- 8Only for certain people, not for everyone.
Like a party where only people on the list can come in.
The club holds a closed meeting once a month.
Only members can join the closed group.
UsageOften before a noun: a closed meeting, a closed group.
Note
- 9Finished and not open to any more discussion.
Like a book you finish reading and put away for good.
The case is closed now that they found the answer.
For me, the matter is closed.
UsagePeople say case closed or the matter is closed to end a talk.
Similarsettled, decided, resolved, finished
Oppositeopen, unresolved, undecided
- 10Not willing to listen to new ideas.
Like a door someone keeps shut so no new ideas can come in.
He has a closed mind about trying new foods.
She seemed closed to any advice from her friends.
UsageSay closed to new ideas, or a closed mind.
Similarunreceptive, resistant, narrow-minded, insular
Oppositeopen, receptive, open-minded
Less common meanings
- 11No longer in use or connected, like a file a program has finished with.
Like a shop that has shut for the day and will not let you in.
The connection to the server is closed, so the app cannot get new messages.
That file is closed and the program can no longer read it.
Oppositeopen
Note
- 12Of a line or path: joined at its ends so that it makes a full loop.
Like a rubber band: it goes all the way around with no loose ends.
A circle is a closed shape with no gaps.
The wire formed a closed ring when she joined the ends.
Note
- 13
- 14
- 15Used about a speech sound made by stopping all the air in the mouth and nose.
- 16Used about a vowel sound that is cut short by the consonant right after it.
- 17In math, used about a set where everything outside it forms an open set.
- 18In math, used about a set where a certain operation on its members always gives another member.
- 19In logic, used about a formula or term with no free variables.
- 20Describes a club or bat whose face turns down or left for a right-handed player.
- 21In heraldry, shown with the wings folded against the body, like a resting bird.
Showing meanings only.
closed is a form of close
close, verb: To shut something, such as a door, a box, your eyes or a tap, so it is no longer open. Full entry
- Spelling
- close → closed: add -d
- Sound
- The ending sounds like /d/.
Practice
Can you tell the meanings of closed apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.