WordGarden.ioclose
A1Pronunciation
UK
- /kləʊs/adjective
US
- /ˈkloʊs/
Meanings
Adjective
near in space or time
emotionally intimate or strongly connected
nearly equal, nearly exact, or decided by a small margin
More meaningsFewer meanings
careful, detailed, and attentive
Verb
to shut something or move into a shut position
to bring an activity, period, business, or agreement to an end
Beyond the definition
"Close" seems simple, but it's surprisingly versatile! It can mean physically near—like a friend sitting beside you—or nearly happening, as in a "close call." It can also mean shutting something (close the door) or bringing something to an end (close the meeting, close the deal). Sometimes, "close" speaks to intimacy and connection, such as a close relationship built on trust, and it can describe a tight fit when something leaves very little space. The word’s roots are fitting: it comes from Latin (via Old French), with an original sense of “to shut.” So next time you use it, remember it can be about distance, almost, finishing, or a special bond.
The word "close" is remarkably multifaceted, shifting in meaning depending on its context—and sometimes its pronunciation. As an adjective, it’s usually said with an “s” sound at the end, and it often describes proximity: things can be close in space (the store is close to home) or close in time (the deadline is close). It can also describe relationships and emotional connections: a close friend is someone you trust deeply, and a close-knit group is one with strong bonds.
As a verb, it’s typically pronounced with a “z” sound at the end, and it commonly means to shut something so it isn’t open (close the door, close your eyes). It can also mean to bring something to an end or conclusion: close a meeting, close a business, close a deal, close an account. In a more “bringing together” sense, you can close the gap, close ranks, or close in on a target.
"Close" also shows up in everyday phrases where it means “nearly” or “with a small margin.” A close call is a near miss, a close contest is one where the competitors are almost equal, and you might come close to winning without quite doing it. Finally, it can describe a tight fit or small spacing—close-fitting clothes, or tiles laid close together. Across all these uses, the core idea is small distance: between objects, between people, between moments, or between “almost” and “actually.”
Examples
- 1
Location
The hotel is close to the beach.
- 2
Family relationship
I'm very close to my older brother.
- 3
Sports result
It was a close game, and either team could have won.
- Phrasea close game
a game with only a small difference
- 4
Household request
Please close the window before you leave.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Opening hours
The museum closes at five on Sundays.
- 6
Road closure
They had to close the road after the accident.
- 7
Meeting
Let's close the meeting and come back to this tomorrow.
- 8
Business agreement
We finally closed the deal last week.
- Phraseclose a deal
complete an agreement
- 9
Almost doing
I was close to sending you a message last night.
- Patternclose to + -ing verb
almost do it
- 10
Narrow escape
That was a close call.
- Phrasea close call
a situation where something bad almost happened
See also
Forms and spellings
6 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- closenounverbadjectiveadverb
Forms
- closedpast tenseverbnounadjective
- closercomparativeadjectiveadverbverbnoun
- closing-ing formverbnounadjective
- closestsuperlativeadjectiveadverbverbnoun
- closespluralnounverbadjective