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as in narrow
showing little difference in the standing of the competitors the election results were so close that the votes had to be recounted

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close

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verb

1
as in to shut
to position (something) so as to prevent passage through an opening be sure to close the gate when you leave

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2
as in to close (down)
to stop the operations of the merchant will close the store if business doesn't improve

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3
as in to end
to bring (an event) to a natural or appropriate stopping point we'll close the assembly with the singing of our national anthem

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close

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adverb (1)

close

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noun (1)

as in courtyard
an open space wholly or partly enclosed (as by buildings or walls) a garden in a close at the center of the complex

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close

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noun (2)

closely

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adverb (2)

as in nearly
to a close degree closely resembling a normal outfit

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of close
Adjective
Famous detective Sherlock Holmes faces a case where the lives of his closest friends are at risk. Devonne Goode, Parents, 17 Apr. 2025 And Amanda Marsalis and April Blair are some of my closest friends now. Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 17 Apr. 2025
Verb
Shares of Peabody Energy—the largest U.S. coal producer, responsible for mining over 104,000 short tons in 2023—closed up 9.21% last Tuesday. Frank Holmes, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025 Fortunately for the Warriors, not many teams have the same arsenal as the Clippers, who closed the season winning 18 of their last 21. Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Adverb
Arlington is close behind and commands a second-place spot with a 9-3 record. Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Apr. 2025 Sarasota County saw a 7% decline over the past year, with Manatee close behind at 5%, according to the latest data from Zillow Home Value Index. Derek Gilliam, Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2025
Noun
Fey, Lang Fisher and Tracey Wigfield co-created The Four Seasons, which was a hot property as 2023’s labor strikes came to a close. Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 15 Apr. 2025 The stock, however, was still more than 20% below its December record-high close of $259. Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 14 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for close
Recent Examples of Synonyms for close
Adjective
  • On the other hand, the guest drama actress race is, for now, less crowded.
    Clayton Davis, Variety, 21 Apr. 2025
  • The most crowded trade in April was gold, according to Bank of America’s survey, breaking a two-year streak of the most crowded trade being the Magnificent Seven tech stocks.
    John Towfighi, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • According to American Rivers, the endangered rivers list highlights rivers that face unique threats in the near future.
    Doyle Rice, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Business Minister Jonathan Reynolds is reportedly set to visit China in the near future, and will be reviving the two countries’ joint Economic and Trade Commission.
    Ned Temko, Christian Science Monitor, 17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • On Saturday, the narrow field caused both teams to adapt to tighter spaces and quicker play.
    Felipe Cardenas, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2025
  • Encircled by ancient stone walls, the village feels suspended in time, with narrow cobbled streets, where artisans’ shops, small galleries, and charming cafés are tucked into old white houses outlined in blue, blending seamlessly with the historic character.
    Monica Mendal, Vogue, 18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Maddox found relief through photography and writing, including Motherhood: The Thread That Holds Us Together, a portrait study capturing the raw, vulnerable, and intimate moments of the motherhood journey that aren’t often seen, to combat isolation.
    Essence, Essence, 14 Apr. 2025
  • The shows are produced by both Audible and Together, a new company that Jackman and producer Sonia Friedman launched to create intimate and accessible live theater.
    Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 12 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • So far, the ESA has been silent on Trump excluding video game consoles from his tariff exemptions.
    Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 14 Apr. 2025
  • The Taliban are also silent on the other restrictions and whether there is any chance of removing them.
    Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Be careful not to let in too much moisture to avoid any mildew or mold developing on your mattress.
    Terry Baddoo, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Yet Schlossberg is careful to note that May did not shadow-direct the movie during production.
    Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Moore sprinted down the field in celebration of his game-saving play with 29 seconds left that gave UCLA an unexpectedly breathless 27-20 victory.
    Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2024
  • Jerry Coyne has a post up which critiques an extremely breathless review of a new book, Epigenetics Revolution.
    Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 24 Aug. 2011
Adjective
  • Prices were accurate at the time of publication but may change.
    Emily DeLetter, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025
  • These speculations proved accurate when, on the second night of WrestleMania 41, Lynch was revealed as the mystery partner of Women's Intercontinental Champion Lyra Valkyria in a tag team title match against the then-champions, Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Close.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/close. Accessed 28 Apr. 2025.

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