close
gb/klˈoʊs/ us/klˈoʊs/
A1
English
~ 1300
becsuk, zár, lezár, közel, közeli, összehúz, csökkenteni a különbséget, megköt
VERB
A1
1
becsuk
A1
Usage pattern:
to close [a door/window/lid]
Please close the door when you leave.
Kérlek, csukd be az ajtót, amikor elmész.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
Becsukta a szemét, és vett egy mély levegőt.
Don't forget to close the window before it rains.
The shop owner closed the gate at 8 p.m.
Learner examples
Close the door, please.
Csukd be az ajtót, kérlek.
I close my eyes when I sleep.
Alvás közben becsukom a szemem.
He will close the box.
Can you close the window?
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'close' with 'lock'. 'Close' means to shut, but not necessarily to secure with a lock.
Meaning
Shut something so it's not open
Collocations
close a door
|close a window
|close the lid
|close your eyes
|close the gate
Synonyms
shut (Slightly more informal in some contexts, but generally interchangeable.)
Antonyms
open (Means to make something not closed or to create an opening.)
Themes
daily life
|home
|work
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To move something so that it is not open anymore.
To move or fasten something so that an opening is covered or blocked.
VERB
A2
2
Usage pattern:
to close [a meeting/store/account]
The bank closes at 5 p.m.
A bank délután 5-kor zár.
Let's close the meeting with a round of thanks.
Zárjuk a megbeszélést azzal, hogy megköszönjük mindenkinek a munkáját.
They closed their shop after 20 years in business.
Learner examples
The store closes at 9 p.m.
Az üzlet este 9-kor zár.
We will close the meeting now.
Most lezárjuk a megbeszélést.
The bank closes in ten minutes.
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse this with 'finish' in all contexts; 'close' is often used for formal or scheduled endings, especially for shops or events.
Meaning
End or stop an activity
Collocations
close a meeting
|close a store
|close an account
|close for the day
Synonyms
end (More general; does not imply shutting a physical space.)
Antonyms
start (Means to begin an event or activity.)
Themes
business
|daily life
|work
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To finish or stop something, like a meeting or a shop's work for the day.
To bring an event, process, or period of operation to an end.
A2
3
They live close to the school.
Közel laknak az iskolához.
We are very close friends.
Nagyon közeli barátok vagyunk.
The deadline is getting close.
Learner examples
My house is close to the park.
A házam közel van a parkhoz.
She is my close friend.
Ő egy közeli barátom.
The bus stop is close.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'close' (adjective) with 'closed' (past participle of 'close'). 'Close' describes nearness; 'closed' means not open.
Meaning
Near in distance, time, or relationship
Collocations
close friend
|close family
|close to home
|close call
Synonyms
near (Focuses more on physical distance than emotional closeness.)
Antonyms
distant (Far away in space, time, or relationship.)
Themes
location
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Near in place or time, or having a strong relationship with someone.
Being near in space, time, or having a strong personal connection.
VERB
A2
4
Usage pattern:
to close [a gap/curtain/book]
Please close the curtains before it gets dark.
Kérlek, húzd össze a függönyöket, mielőtt besötétedik.
They worked hard to close the gap between rich and poor.
Keményen dolgoztak azon, hogy csökkentsék a gazdagok és a szegények közötti szakadékot.
He closed the book and left the room.
Learner examples
Close the curtains now.
Most húzd össze a függönyöket.
He closed the book after reading.
Olvasás után becsukta a könyvet.
We closed the gap between us.
Meaning
Bring parts together until they touch/join
Collocations
close a gap
|close the curtains
|close a book
Synonyms
join (Implies permanent connection, while 'close' can be temporary.)
Antonyms
separate (Means to move apart or create space between things.)
Themes
daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To move things together so there is no space between them.
To move two or more parts so that there is no gap between them.
VERB
B1
5
Usage pattern:
to close [a deal/sale/contract]
They closed the deal after weeks of negotiation.
Hetekig tartó tárgyalások után megkötötték az üzletet.
We hope to close several sales this quarter.
Reméljük, hogy ebben a negyedévben több üzletet is sikerül megkötnünk.
The company closed a major contract yesterday.
Learner examples
We closed the deal yesterday.
Tegnap megkötöttük az üzletet.
He closed a big sale today.
Ma megkötött egy nagy üzletet.
They will close the contract tomorrow.
Meaning
Conclude a deal or agreement
Collocations
close a deal
|close a sale
|close a contract
Synonyms
finalize (More formal; emphasizes making final arrangements.)
Antonyms
cancel (Means to stop a planned deal from happening.)
Themes
business
|finance
Definition
To finish making a business agreement or selling something.
To successfully complete and formalize a business arrangement or transaction.
Grammar
Dictionary form
close
IPA
GB/klˈoʊs/
US/klˈoʊs/
Syllables & stress
close (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (close)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: close
- Comparative: closer
- Superlative: closest
Verb
- Base: close
- 3rd Person Singular: closes
- Present Participle: closing
- Past: closed
Word family
Expressions
close down
1/klˈoʊz dˈaʊn/
phrasal verb
Stop operating a business or service
To stop running a business or service, often forever.
Examples
- The factory closed down last year due to low demand.
- They had to close down the restaurant after only six months.
close in on
1/klˈoʊs ˈɪn ˈɔn/
phrasal verb
Move nearer to capture/attack target
To move closer to someone or something in order to catch them.
Examples
- The police were closing in on the suspect.
- The soldiers closed in on their target.
come close to
1/kˈʌm klˈoʊs tə/
fixed phrase
Almost achieve or experience something
To nearly do or feel something.
Examples
- She came close to winning the race.
- I came close to falling asleep during the lecture.
close call
1/klˈoʊs kˈɔl/
idiom
Narrow escape from danger or trouble
A situation where something bad almost happened but did not.
Examples
- That was a close call—we almost hit that car!
- That was a close call — we almost hit that car!
- It was a close call, but we finished before the deadline.
- It was a close call, but we made it on time.
behind closed doors
1/bɪhˈaɪnd klˈoʊzd dˈɔɹz/
idiom
with no outsiders present
in a private place, with no people from outside watching or listening
Examples
- The negotiations took place behind closed doors.
- Important negotiations took place behind closed doors.
- The key decisions were made behind closed doors.
- They prefer to discuss family matters behind closed doors.
- They always argue behind closed doors.
- They like to keep their negotiations behind closed doors.
- A lot of bullying happens behind closed doors, where teachers cannot see it.
behind closed doors
2/bɪhˈaɪnd klˈoʊzd dˈɔɹz/
idiom
In private, secretly
In secret, where other people cannot see or know what happens.
Examples
- The deal was made behind closed doors.
- They discussed the matter behind closed doors.
behind closed doors
3/bɪhˈaɪnd klˈoʊzd dˈɔɹz/
idiom
In private, secretly
Happening in private, where people cannot see or know about it.
Examples
- The deal was made behind closed doors.
- They met behind closed doors to discuss the plan.