close
gb/klˈoʊs/ us/klˈoʊs/
A1
English
~ 1300
Senses
0 senses
Verb
A1
action
1
Shut something so it's not open
To move something so that it is not open anymore.
Usage pattern:
to close [a door/window/lid]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'close' with 'lock'. 'Close' means to shut, but not necessarily to secure with a lock.
Synonyms
shut (Slightly more informal in some contexts, but generally interchangeable.)
Antonyms
open (Means to make something not closed or to create an opening.)
Collocations
close a door
|close a window
|close the lid
|close your eyes
|close the gate
Themes
daily life
|home
|work
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Please close the door when you leave.
- She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
- 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.
- I close my eyes when I sleep.
- He will close the box.
- Can you close the window?
Verb
A2
action
2
End or stop an activity
To finish or stop something, like a meeting or a shop's work for the day.
Usage pattern:
to close [a meeting/store/account]
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.
Synonyms
end (More general; does not imply shutting a physical space.)
Antonyms
start (Means to begin an event or activity.)
Collocations
close a meeting
|close a store
|close an account
|close for the day
Themes
business
|daily life
|work
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The bank closes at 5 p.m.
- Let's close the meeting with a round of thanks.
- They closed their shop after 20 years in business.
Learner examples
- The store closes at 9 p.m.
- We will close the meeting now.
- The bank closes in ten minutes.
adjective
A2
property
3
Near in distance, time, or relationship
Near in place or time, or having a strong relationship with someone.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'close' (adjective) with 'closed' (past participle of 'close'). 'Close' describes nearness; 'closed' means not open.
Synonyms
near (Focuses more on physical distance than emotional closeness.)
Antonyms
distant (Far away in space, time, or relationship.)
Collocations
close friend
|close family
|close to home
|close call
Themes
location
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- They live close to the school.
- We are very close friends.
- The deadline is getting close.
Learner examples
- My house is close to the park.
- She is my close friend.
- The bus stop is close.
Verb
A2
action
4
Bring parts together until they touch/join
To move things together so there is no space between them.
Usage pattern:
to close [a gap/curtain/book]
Synonyms
join (Implies permanent connection, while 'close' can be temporary.)
Antonyms
separate (Means to move apart or create space between things.)
Collocations
close a gap
|close the curtains
|close a book
Themes
daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Please close the curtains before it gets dark.
- They worked hard to close the gap between rich and poor.
- He closed the book and left the room.
Learner examples
- Close the curtains now.
- He closed the book after reading.
- We closed the gap between us.
Verb
B1
action
5
Conclude a deal or agreement
To finish making a business agreement or selling something.
Usage pattern:
to close [a deal/sale/contract]
Synonyms
finalize (More formal; emphasizes making final arrangements.)
Antonyms
cancel (Means to stop a planned deal from happening.)
Collocations
close a deal
|close a sale
|close a contract
Themes
business
|finance
Examples
- They closed the deal after weeks of negotiation.
- We hope to close several sales this quarter.
- The company closed a major contract yesterday.
Learner examples
- We closed the deal yesterday.
- He closed a big sale today.
- They will close the contract tomorrow.
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.