WordGarden.iocloseup
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /klˈəʊsʌp/
US
- /ˈkloʊˈsəp/
Meanings
Noun
a photograph or camera shot taken from very near the subject
a detailed view or examination of something
Beyond the definition
"All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my closeup." This famous line from the movie Sunset Boulevard captures the essence of the word perfectly. A closeup is a photograph or film shot taken at a very short distance, filling the frame with a specific detail—usually a person's face.
When you see something in a closeup, there is no place to hide; every freckle, emotion, or crack is visible. While it's often spelled with a hyphen (close-up), the single-word form is widely accepted. Just be careful not to confuse the noun with the verb phrase "close up" (two words), which means to shut a shop for the day.
In photography and cinema, a closeup is a framing technique used to create intimacy or emphasize importance. By eliminating the background and focusing entirely on a subject—like a tear rolling down a cheek or a hand trembling on a doorknob—a closeup forces the viewer to pay attention to small details that drive the emotional story.
Figuratively, the word is often used to describe a detailed examination or an intimate account of a situation. For example, a historian might write a book that offers "a fascinating closeup of 18th-century court life," meaning it looks deeply at the specific daily details rather than just the broad strokes of history.
It is important to distinguish the noun from the verb phrase. As a noun, you might take a closeup of a flower. But as a verb (two words), close up means to shut something completely or to bring things nearer together. You might "close up the house" before a vacation, or a wound might "close up" as it heals.
So, whether you are zooming in with a camera lens or analyzing a topic in great detail, a closeup is all about eliminating distance to reveal the truth.
Examples
- 1
Film shot
The director began with a closeup of the actor's face.
- 2
Product detail
The ad included a closeup of the watch so you could see the details.
- 3
Emotional reaction
During the argument, the film cuts to closeups of each person's reaction.
- 4
Report photo
We still need a closeup photo of the label for the report.
See also
Similar
- close shot
- tight shot
Shades of meaning
- extreme close-up
- medium close-up
- macro photograph
Contrast
- wide shot
- long shot
Used with (collocations)
- take a closeup
- closeup shot
- facial closeup
Word family
- closeups
Explore
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- closeupnoun